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Russia has received hundreds of Iranian drones capable of being deployed in Ukraine, according to Western intelligence officials. The shipments signify a closer military relationship between Iran and Russia, despite repeated warnings by the U.S. to not ship the weapons or risk jeopardising a renewed nuclear deal.
Reports remain unclear whether Russia has used the drones against Ukrainians in the battlefield, but intelligence sources indicate the drones are fully operational. Russia has become more reliant on Iran as a military supplier due to the increased constraints placed on Russia by sanctions. Last month, it was reported that Russian officials had visited Iran twice to arrange the transfer of the equipment and it now appears Russia has received hundreds of the drones.
Iran’s military relationship with Russia has become a strain in the current negotiations to return Iran to a renewed nuclear deal. Officials worry that if a deal is signed, Moscow could potentially evade sanctions by exporting energy through Iran, which will have received sanctions relief from a new deal. Given Iran’s demands that the U.S. guarantee it will not reimpose new sanctions for at least five years after the deal is signed, it could complicate attempts to prevent Russia from bypassing sanctions through Iran in the future.
Speaking about the growing military relationship last month, Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that Tehran had “various types of collaboration with Russia…but we won’t help either of the sides involved in the war because we believe that it needs to be stopped”. Iran has made no comment on the allegations it has sent military drones to Russia.
