Iran launches new stealth warship

Iran on Saturday launched a new warship which state media report is a domestically produced stealth destroyer that can sail up to five months without stopping to resupply.

The ship has a deck for helicopters, torpedo launchers, anti-aircraft and anti-ship defenses, and surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, Iranian media said. It is also equipped with electronic warfare capabilities.

"This vessel is the result of daring and creative design relying on the local technical knowledge of the Iranian Navy ... and has been built with stealth capabilities," said Rear-Admiral Alireza Sheikhi, while Rear-Admiral Touraj Hassani Moqaddam said the new ship may be sent on a mission to Venezuela soon.

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This launch comes as U.S.-Iran tensions have risen following President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year.