Iran is developing and testing new combat robots in its northeastern regions according to a high-ranking official. General Nozar Nemati, Deputy Commander of the Army Ground Force Brigadier, said troops are engaged in an "offensive" exercise using newly-developed robots which was launched on Sunday night in northeastern Iran.

Two Iranian cargo vessels reportedly carrying sodium perchlorate, a key missile propellant ingredient, from China to Iran could trigger U.S. sanctions. The materials, destined for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,

Named the Golbon and the Jairan, the Iranian vessels will carry more than 1,000 tonnes of sodium perchlorate to fuel medium-range missiles.