The Iranian Ministry of Defense has revealed a new locally produced semi-automatic, magazine fed, 12.7mm anti-material rifle to the public, dubbed the “Nasr”(نصر). In addition to the Nasr, what appears to be a locally produced 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov “Century Series” clone has also been announced, bearing polymer furniture and with an AK74 muzzle brake. According to some sources, both of these rifles are destined for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Nasr is essentially a locally produced Russian OSV 96 anti-material rifle, also in 12.7x108mm. Images of the anti-material rifle were seen coming from last years IPAS 2016, but this is the first official announcement of the anti-material rifle.

Although the AK133 is a copy of a Century Series Kalashnikov AK103, the Ministry of Defense has added a differently designed handguard with picatinny rail attachments mounted to it. The example shown in the announcement appears to have an imitation Harris bipod, a light that looks to be originally designed for a handgun, and a reflex optic that we are unsure of the origin or manufacture (Readers chime in?)

These recent small arms developments have been rather interesting for a very crucial reason. Because Iran has essentially been pumping out anti-material rifles and high power rifles for several years now, almost coming out with a new rifle announcement every year. Granted, most of these designs are simply cloned versions of foreign rifles or contraptions of such, and not actually any new technology. However, they appear to change in quality, some rifles look to be extremely rugged while others appear to almost be home made creations. What I think is happening is that attempts such as this Nasr are intended for arm Iranian defense forces at home, while the rifles of much more shabby quality are intended to arm various groups that Iran is funding overseas, specifically in controversial conflicts such as Yemen, Syria, and most recently in Egypt with a Muslim Brotherhood small arms cache that was uncovered.

The puzzling part is why even bother with announcing these products if they are going to turn up in use by various non-state actors?