Source: London Telegraph

Unmanned drone: The MQ-9 Predator B unmanned drone Photo: REUTERS

Ahmad Vahidi, the Iranian defence minister, opened two production lines for the manufacture of the aircraft, the Fars news agency reported.

The drones would be able to carry out "surveillance, detection and even assaults with high precision", the report said.

US Predator drones have killed hundreds of suspected terrorists in Pakistan in recent years. Iran's sworn enemy Israel uses drones for reconnaisance. But it was not immediately clear what purpose the Iranian drones would serve.

In the past week Iran has announced a spate of technological advances and military achievements in the run up to the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Feb 11.

On Sunday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad deepened tensions with the West over Iran's atomic programme when he ordered scientists to enrich stockpiles of uranium to the higher level needed to produce nuclear power.

The West fears Iran harbours ambitions to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran insists it is seeking only to produce electricity for civilian purposes.