U.S. Says Iran Helps Russia Build Drone Factory, Ships Equipment Over Caspian Sea

Washington D.C./10.06.23/Turan: The United States on Friday declassified intelligence showing how Iran sends hundreds of drones to Russia and helps it to build a drone manufacturing plant near Moscow which could be fully operational by early next year, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

“This is a full-scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to Iran’s neighbors, and to the international community,” National Security Council's John Kirby said Friday morning in a statement. Moscow has purchased hundreds of drones from Iran since last summer and is using them extensively in the war in Ukraine, he said.

Washington believes that Iran is shipping equipment for the plant, as well as fully-built drones, to Russia via the Caspian Sea. One graphic shows how the drones are shipped from Amirabad, Iran, across the Caspian route to Makhachkala and then transferred to two air bases in Russia. U.S, officials believe that Iran is using vessels that are “dark,” or have turned off their tracking data to disguise their movements.

Another graphic includes satellite imagery, taken on April 3, showing the planned location of the drone manufacturing plant in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which could be fully operational early next year.

Kirby said that the Biden administration is releasing this information to the public “to expose and disrupt” the two countries' full-scale defense partnership. “We are continuing to use all the tools at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities including by sharing this with the public — and we are prepared to do more,” he added.

On Friday afternoon, following the White House statement, the State Department, along with the Pentagon, as well as the Treasury and Commerce Departments, announced guidance to alert the international community, private sector, and public to the threat posed by Iran’s procurement, development, and proliferation of UAVs.

The Advisory informs the private industry of key UAV-related components Iran seeks to develop its UAV program and entities involved in the procurement, production, and proliferation of Iranian UAVs, the State Department said.

It also provides recommendations to exporters, manufacturers, distributors, and financial institutions in implementing effective due diligence and internal controls specifically relevant to Iran’s UAV-related activities to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements across the entire supply chain and to avoid unintentionally contributing to Iran’s UAV programs.

"Russia is continuing to use Iran-produced UAVs in attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.  This advisory is another example of how the United States is working to disrupt and delay the transfers of UAVs from Iran to Russia," the State Department said.

The advisory is available here: https://www.state.gov/guidance-to-industry-on-irans-uav-related-activities/

Alex Raufoglu