Russia Now In Possession Of Iranian Drones, State Department Confirms

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday confirmed that it believes Russia has received Iranian drones and “intends to use these UAVs, which can conduct air to surface attacks, electronic warfare, and targeting on the battlefield in Ukraine,” as the Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told TURAN's Washington correspondent during a daily press briefing.

“The Russian military is suffering from major supply shortages in Ukraine in part because of sanctions and export controls, forcing Russia to rely on unreliable countries like Iran for supplies and equipment,” Patel said in response to TURAN's questions.

“We'll continue to vigorously enforce all US sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arms trade and we will stand with our partners throughout the region against the Iranian threat,” he added.

Patel recalled that over the course of several days in August, Russian transport aircraft loaded the UAV equipment at an airfield in Iran and subsequently flew from Iran to Russia. This initial delivery is likely part of Russia’s plan to import hundreds of Iranian UAVs of various types. "Russian operators continue to receive training in Iran on how to use these systems."

Patel also added that U.S.' information indicates that UAVs associated with this transfer "have already experienced numerous failures."

"Russia deepening an alliance with Iran is something that the whole world and especially those in the region should look at and see as a profound threat," he said when asked about implications of the move for the region.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.