Regime Says Supplied Drones To Russia Before The War

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says that Iran supplied drones to Russia but claims deliveries were only made prior to Moscow’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February, reports Reuters.

On Saturday, Amirabdollahian said that a “small number” of drones had been sent to Russia some time before the invasion of Ukraine. He also denied reports that Tehran was supplying ballistic missiles to Russia.

This was the first time that Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia.

In a social media post, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley rejected Iran’s claims that it had only sent a few drones to Russia prior to the war.

Tehran “transferred dozens just this summer and have military personnel in occupied Ukraine helping Russia use them," he said.

Ukraine has reported a surge in attacks on civilian infrastructure in recent weeks by Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Russia has designated the drones as the Geran-2, while denying it has used Iranian-made systems.