[6] The Zulfiqar is believed to be developed from major components of the Soviet T-72 and American M48 and M60 tanks.

For the Zulfiqar/T-72 fleet, the Ammunition Group of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization mass-produces a standard high explosive 23 kilograms (51 lb) propellant charge which fires the 3 kg warhead at a muzzle velocity of 850 metres per second (2,800 ft/s).

[6] In April 1997 Acting Commander of the Ground Forces of the Iranian Army, Lieutenant General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani announced that the mass production of Zulfiqar tanks, which began in 1996, was still in progress.

In late July 1997 Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani formally inaugurated a production line for the domestically manufactured Zulfiqar main battle tanks and Boragh tracked armoured personnel carrier.

[3] The facility, the Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex, will also produce the Russian designed BMP-2 armored personnel carrier.

[13][14] The Zulfiqar-3,[15] the most advanced variant of the Zulfiqar family, bears a close resemblance to the American M1 Abrams.

It features considerable upgrades to the fire-control system, chassis,[4] engine and main gun.

The new variant is equipped with the 2A46 125 mm smoothbore cannon with an autoloader, a laser rangefinder and a new fire-control system.