It seems the Iranian small arms industry is experiencing a bit of a boom – just released last week is another new rifle, called the MASAF, following the Fateh, Nabi, and two other unnamed rifles. The MASAF is obviously based on the AR-15, with a short-stroke operating rod in lieu of a direct impingement gas tube. This and other features suggest the new rifle is based on the Heckler & Koch HK416, although whether the MASAF is a true clone, and whether it is legitimate, remain unknown.

The MASAF is discussed, with additional pictures, in this Pakistan Defence forum thread, and I recommend my readers check that out. Some of the photos are embedded below:

We do not yet know whether Iran is building these weapons under license, or whether this is an illicit clone – or even a clone at all.

More on this subject (in Farsi) is available in a thread over at Military.Ir forums.