Updated

A senior Revolutionary Guard commander says Iran has deployed a domestic-built reconnaissance drone that can stay aloft for 24 hours.

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who heads the Guard's aerospace division, says the drone named Shahed-129, or Witness-129, has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles). That covers much of the Middle East including Israel and nearly doubles the range of previous Iranian drones.

Hajizadeh spoke during an interview Tuesday on Iran's state TV. He claims Iranian scientists designed and developed the drone.

Iran has said it also seeks to develop a drone with attack capabilities.

Iran says it is fighting an intelligence battle with the U.S. and Israel, which accuse Tehran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charges.