Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi took part in a ceremony to mark the deployment of combat helicopter Toufan II. The defense minister said the Iranian-designed helicopter is part of "a new generation of combat choppers and enjoys advanced and updated technology," the semiofficial Fars News Agency reports.

Once mass production begins, Vahidi said the new combat aircraft will expand Iran's defense capabilities despite increasing sanctions pressure from Tehran's adversaries.

Western governments have imposed tight economic sanctions on Iran to counter perceived nuclear weapons ambitions.