President Rouhani in the cockpit as Iran unveils new fighter jet

Iran has unveiled a twin-seater fighter jet that it says is entirely designed and manufactured in the country.

The aircraft, called Kowsar, is capable of carrying various weapons and will be used for short aerial-support missions, according to state news agency Tasnim.

Kowsar refers to a river in paradise and is the title of a chapter in the Koran.

State television showed President Hassan Rouhani briefly sitting in the cockpit inside a hangar before an inauguration ceremony in the capital, Tehran.

The unveiling came a day before Wednesday's country's national defence industry day.

Iranian media also said the country intends to manufacture a single-seat version of the jet capable of flying at Mach 1.2 - faster than the speed of sound.

Speaking live on television, Mr Rouhani said Iran's military was the reason its enemies had not attacked.

"We should make ourselves ready to fight against the military powers who want to take over our territory and our
resources," he said.

"Why does the United States not attack us? Because of our power, because it knows the consequences."

Iran lacks a powerful, modern air force and has been at the mercy of Russia to provide air power in its backing of Syria's president in the country's civil war.

It has sent weapons and thousands of soldiers to help President Assad but could only provide at most a few dozen strike aircraft.

Iran's air force has relied on ageing Russian and US models acquired before the 1979 Iranian revolution.

In 2013, Iran unveiled what it said was a new, domestically built fighter jet, Qaher 313, but experts said they doubted its viability.

Iran has developed a sizeable domestic arms industry despite international sanctions and embargoes barring it from importing many weapons.

It says its military power is just for defence and does not pose a threat to other nations.

However, in May, US President Donald Trump pulled out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, calling it defective.

That prompted Mr Rouhani to say Iran would restart uranium enrichment, key for making both nuclear energy and - potentially - nuclear weapons.