The US State Department announced on Thursday that Russian officers trained in Iran in recent weeks as part of an agreement on the transfer of drones between the two nations.
Last month, US sources stated that Washington had intelligence that Iran was prepared to give Russia up to several hundred drones, some of which were armed, and that Russian officials had visited Iran to examine unmanned aerial vehicles with attack capabilities (UAVs).
The claim aroused concerns that Iran, which had previously provided drones to its allies in the Middle East, was now providing help to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
At the time, Iran’s foreign minister refuted the allegation during a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Vedant Patel, a deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, told reporters in a phone briefing on Thursday that Russian personnel has undertaken drone training in Iran “in the recent few weeks.”
He stated that the United States would “vigorously implement” its sanctions against both the Russian and Iranian arms trade. Patel stated that the transfer of drones between the two nations was “possibly permissible under several laws.”
“We remain extremely worried about Iran’s use and spread of unmanned aerial vehicles. They have been utilized to strike US forces, our regional allies, and international shipping corporations, Patel stated.
