Iran has admitted to supplying drones to Russia for the first time. Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian said Saturday the Islamic Republic had provided Russia with a limited number of drones ahead of the war in Ukraine, state-run IRNA news agency reported. However, the chief diplomat denied further arms deliveries after the beginning of the Russian war of aggression and the provision of missiles.
Kyiv and the US government recently denounced that Iranian kamikaze drones were used in the Ukraine war. Tehran has also reportedly sent military personnel to Russian-held Crimea to train the Russians on how to use the drones and provide them with technical assistance. So far, Tehran has denied the deliveries.
A week ago, Iran’s foreign minister announced his willingness to hold bilateral meetings with Ukraine to discuss allegations of Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war. According to the Ukrainian military, it has shot down hundreds of Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. It is assumed that Russia has ordered 2,400 such drones.
Iran has good relations with Russia. In order to neutralize Western sanctions, Tehran is appealing to China and Russia in particular for economic and military cooperation.
Report to Irna
