Russia has begun arming Iran with drones, marking the first known transfer of lethal munitions. Photo / Getty Images
Russia has begun arming Iran with drones, marking the first known transfer of lethal munitions from Moscow to Tehran since the war commenced.
The shipment of drones, food and medicine is part of a military support package to aid Iran in its fight with the United States and Israel.
Senior Iranian and Russian officials began discussing drone deliveries just days into the conflict, two officials briefed on Western intelligence reports told the Financial Times.
The processing of shipments began in early March and is set to be completed by the end of the month.
According to the report, security officials believe Iran is being supplied with Geran-2 and Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, which are derived from Tehran’s Shahed design that Russia has previously deployed in Ukraine.
“The Russians dramatically improved the Shaheds, including modifications to the engines, navigation and anti-jamming capabilities,” Nicole Grajewski, a professor at Sciences Po university who researches the Russia-Iran relationship, told the Financial Times.
“So these systems are already more advanced than the ones Iran was producing domestically.”
The supply of munitions comes three weeks after it was revealed Russia was providing Iran with crucial satellite and intelligence data to help it target US forces in the Middle East.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Telegraph.
US President Donald Trump said earlier this month he believed Moscow was providing intelligence to Tehran about US targets.
“I think [Russian President Vladimir Putin] might be helping them a bit,” he said in an interview with Fox News.
“I guess, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?”
He added: “It’s like, ‘Hey, they do it, and we do it, in all fairness’.”
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been trying to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Moscow, told US media this week that Russia had denied the claims.
“The Russians said they have not been sharing intelligence with Iran,” he said.
“So, you know, we can take them at their word. Let’s hope that they’re not sharing.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago, both sides have made frequent use of drones, shifting the nature of the way the conflict has been fought.
Many of the drones fired at Ukraine were produced by Iran and cost as little as US$30,000 ($52,000).
Since Iran was attacked by the US and Israel on February 28, it has been estimated that perhaps two-thirds of Tehran’s missile and drone production capacity has been destroyed. Against that backdrop, Iran has reportedly turned to Moscow for help.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed this week that despite Russia’s denials, he had proof Moscow was providing intelligence support.
“We have irrefutable evidence that the Russians continue to provide intelligence to the Iranian regime. Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through co-operation with partners in the Middle East,” he wrote on X.
“By helping the Iranian regime stay afloat and strike more accurately, Russia is effectively prolonging the war. There must be a response.”
Several military experts noted Iran had been successful in getting its drones and missiles to hit targets not just in Israel, but in Gulf nations including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.
It was evading defences by sending them in waves, the experts said, a tactic that Ukraine had learned to counter using small interceptors that cost about US$5000. Zelenskyy dispatched interception experts to the Gulf.
Dimitri Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, told the Financial Times this week: “There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true – we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership.”
Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.