Deepening Iran-Russia Partnership 'Poses Increasing Threat To Countries In Region', U.S. Says

Washington D.C./16.05.23/Turan: The United States is seeing more indications thatI Iran and Russia are expanding an "unprecedented defence partnership" that will pose a threat to the region, including to Iran’s neighbours, the State Department said on Monday, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Tehran reportedly provided Moscow with one-way attack drones, including more than 400 since August, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told a daily press briefing.

Deepening cooperation between Russia and Iran "is incredibly concerning," as Patel put it:  "It is dangerous.  It is a threat to the countries in those regions. It is a threat to the international community," Patel said when responding to TURAN's questions about Washington's latest concerns.

He went on to explain, "... We are talking about a security cooperation that flows both ways, from Iran to Russia and from Russia to Iran.  This is a partnership that is a full-scale defense partnership, and it is harmful to Ukraine, it is harmful to other countries in the region."

The White House, in its turn, said it will impose additional sanctions targeting Iran as Washington ups the ante in its campaign against Tehran for supplying Moscow with weapons for its war on Ukraine.

“In the coming days we will be announcing additional designations against those involved in the increased military trade between Russia and Iran,” national security council spokesman John Kirby said.

According to hin, Russia has been offering Iran missiles, electronics [and] air defences. "Last month, Iran announced that it would finalise the deal to buy SU35 fighter jets from Russia. Iran is seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars, and 130 combat trainer aircraft.

In total, Iran is seeking "billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia," as Kirby put it.

Washington, along with its European allies has tried to implement new restrictions in an attempt to prevent western components from being used in Iranian drones - and ending up on the battlefields of Ukraine.

The U.S. has already blacklisted Iran's IRGC as the terrorist organization. Patel, in response to Turan's questions, denied claims that the U.S. had asked the UK not to designate IRGC.  "These are sovereign decisions that other countries will take as it relates to their own assessments of the security environment," he said.

Senior Biden administration officials are slated to brief the Congress today on its Iran policy at an Iran-focused classified session.

Alex Raufoglu