The United States has announced plans to deploy a new laser attack weapon prototype on a ship in the Persian Gulf near Iran. The U.S. Navy has released video of the laser weapon system setting fire to a drone during a test run. In addition to burning through drones or ships, the laser can produce blinding bursts to disable sensors. The announcement of its future deployment is an apparent warning to Iran after an impasse was hit during talks on Iran’s nuclear program and the possible lifting of Western sanctions. Iran said today it had begun operating two new uranium mines and a processing plant.