UANI Displays Iranian Shahed-136 Drone on Capitol Hill with Speaker Johnson and Lawmakers

First time in U.S. history that an Iranian Shahed-136 drone has been displayed publicly on Capitol Hill

(New York, NY) – On May 8, 2025, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) hosted a historic event on Capitol Hill, unveiling the Iranian regime’s Shahed-136 drone—the most lethal and ubiquitous terror weapon of mass destruction in the world today. The event marked the first time in U.S. history that an Iranian drone was displayed on Capitol Hill for public viewing. It drew significant attention from lawmakers, experts, and media, and was part of UANI’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the true nature of the Ayatollah’s regime and the growing threat of Iran’s drone proliferation.

UANI’s event was also held on the seventh anniversary of President Trump’s withdrawal from the failed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as nuclear negotiations continue. Lawmakers, from U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson to Senator Ted Cruz, emphasized at the event that Iran’s nuclear program must be fully dismantled and that a JCPOA 2.0 would be unacceptable to them.

Picture of House Speaker Johnson with UANI CEO Mark Wallace at the UANI Event on May 8

The event began with Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of UANI, thanking the Republic of Poland, specifically, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. Ambassador Wallace also thanked the government of Ukraine, the primary victims of Iran’s drone technology. Poland and Ukraine assisted UANI in acquiring the drone.

Ambassador Wallace said: "By putting the Islamic Republic of Iran’s primary killing machine, the Shahed-136 drone, on public display in Washington D.C., we lay bare the true face of the Iranian regime and its determination to weaponize and mass-produce terror. This ubiquitous weapon of mass destruction is the modern-day V1 Buzz Bomb used by the Nazis in the Second World War.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran and its terror proxies have used the Shahed-136 to kill citizens from around the world. The Shahed-136 has repeatedly been used against U.S. troops across the Middle East and was the weapon that struck America’s Tower 22 Base in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of three American servicemembers and wounding 47 others. Iran has also launched Shahed drones against Israel, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine, among others."

House Speaker Mike Johnson said: “Loitering attack drones like the Shahed-136, which use off-the-shelf technology, are changing the economics of war, and not in America’s favor. They’re with every terrorist group because they’re cheap. Iran can build one of these things for about $20,000. We have to make sure that we keep maximum pressure on Iran. Nothing less will do.”

Sen. Ted Cruz said, “The Iranian government represents an acute and imminent threat to America and our allies. When the ayatollah chants ‘death to America,’ he means it. There’s no doubt that China represents the most significant long-term threat to the United States [but] the prospect of an Iranian regime acquiring nuclear weapons presents the most acute and immediate threat to America and our allies. They are developing missiles capable of detonating nuclear warheads above American cities because they intend to detonate nuclear warheads above American cities.”

Senator Ted Cruz Speaking at the UANI Event on Capitol Hill on May 8

Several other Members of Congress took the stage to lend their voices to the issue, including Rep. Mike Lawler, Rep. Brian Mast, who is the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Keith Self, Rep. Darrell Issa, and Sen. James Lankford. Each reiterated the need for robust U.S. action to counter Iran’s drone program and halt the regime’s efforts to destabilize the Middle East and beyond.

The event also featured a thought-provoking panel discussion with Ambassador Bogdan Klich, Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to the United States, Norman Roule, UANI’s Senior Advisor and former U.S. National Intelligence Manager for Iran, and Jason Brodsky, UANI Policy Director. The panelists shared their insights on the technical aspects of the Shahed-136 drone, its use in various conflicts, and its potential to further exacerbate global security challenges.

As the UANI event was taking place, the Iranian regime unveiled an underground drone facility. This highlighted UANI’s impact and the threat it poses to the Islamic Republic. It also underscored Iran’s intent to use the nuclear negotiating process as a shield to buy time to advance its drone program. The Shahed-136 terror weapon of mass destruction represents the true face of the Iranian regime, not the Ayatollah’s smiling propagandists who have been mandated to conceal the nature of the Islamic Republic.