WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House on Monday bought more advanced strike drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine after Russia depleted most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased in Tehran.
Last year, the Biden administration released satellite imagery and intelligence findings that suggested Iran had sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And while officials have claimed for months that the U.S. believes Iran is considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, Washington says a deal has been made. don’t have any proof.
“Iran continues to supply Russia with expendable UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]. and most of them are of the shahid type.”
“Russia has expended most of these UAVs, using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine. By providing Russia with these UAVs, Iran has been directly enabling Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters.
The Shahed drones that Russia has already purchased are packed with explosives and programed to loiter overhead until they nosedive into a target — unmanned versions of World War II kamikaze pilots who would fly their explosives-laden planes into U.S. warships in the Pacific.
Kirby said the Russians are now looking at acquiring even more advanced drones “capable of more lethality”
The latest revelation is part of a persistent drip of intelligence findings from the administration to detail what U.S. officials say is a deepening defense partnership between Russia and Iran. The U.S. allegations are part of a broader effort to declassify and publicize intelligence findings concerning Moscow’s prosecution of its nearly 15-month war in Ukraine in hopes of furthering global isolation of Russia. The government says the Kremlin’s reliance on Iran and North Korea, countries that are largely isolated on the international stage because of their nuclear programs and human rights abuses, is a sign of desperation. This came amid Ukrainian resistance and the success of the global coalition in disrupting Russia’s military supply chain and refusing to provide replacements for weapons lost on the battlefield. The White House has announced that Russia is approaching North Korea over artillery fire.
U.S. officials say Iran also provided artillery and tank ammunition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“This is a comprehensive defense partnership to the detriment of Ukraine, the Middle East region and the international community,” Kirby said, adding that Iran had been “Russia’s biggest military backer” since the invasion of Ukraine began. Iran said it had supplied drones to Russia before the war began, but has not since. North Korea has denied supplying artillery to Russia.
For months, the White House has said there are disturbing signs that Russia and Tehran’s military cooperation could go both ways.
According to the White House, Iran is looking to buy additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars and YAK-130 combat trainers. And Iran announced last month that it had reached an agreement with Russia to purchase Su-35 fighter jets. The White House has previously said Russia and Iran were considering setting up a drone assembly line in Russia in preparation for a conflict in Ukraine.
“In total, Iran is asking Russia for military equipment worth billions of dollars,” Kirby said.
The new allegations came to light as Biden traveled to Hiroshima, Japan, to attend a summit of seven major nations later this week, where the U.S. president will be the leader of one of the world’s largest economies. It is expected that the United States will continue to strengthen export controls and sanctions against Russia.
