Iran has showcased a Shahed-136 kamikaze drone inside a live television studio for what is being described as the first time, bringing one of its most recognizable weapons directly before viewers on state broadcaster IRIB. The unusual presentation featured a pink-colored model of the one-way attack drone during a televised discussion highlighting its design and claimed military capabilities. Iranian officials used the appearance to promote the weapon's battlefield record, particularly its alleged role in attacks against American military infrastructure across the Middle East. Tehran has repeatedly portrayed the relatively inexpensive Shahed drone family as a central component of its asymmetric warfare strategy, relying on large-scale deployments to challenge more sophisticated military defenses. The television appearance also comes amid broader Iranian efforts to showcase drones, missiles, and other military equipment as tensions with the United States and Israel continue.

Iranian officials have claimed that Shahed-136 variants helped destroy or damage multiple American early-warning and radar installations during the 2026 regional conflict. Among the facilities affected was Qatar's AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar, which sustained damage during Iranian attacks, although available reporting attributes the strike to a ballistic missile rather than a Shahed drone. Satellite imagery and independent investigations have also documented damage to radar and communications infrastructure at several US and allied military facilities across the Gulf. However, the extent of the damage and Tehran's claims of specific drone-related victories have not always been independently established. By putting the Shahed-136 on national television, Iran is using the weapon not only as a military symbol but also as a public demonstration of its claimed capabilities and regional reach.