According to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and according to satellite imagery obtained exclusively by CNN, a Russian delegation has visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in the past month to inspect combat drones to equip the Russian army..
Iran began demonstrating to Russia the Shahed-191 drones (a review of this drone is in the video below) and Shahed-129 at the Kashan airfield south of Tehran in June, the TV channel reported, citing its own sources.. Both types of drones are capable of carrying precision-guided missiles..
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“We have information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs, including combat ones,” Sullivan said in a comment..
“We believe that an official Russian government delegation was recently at the presentation of Iranian combat (attack-capable) UAVs,” Sullivan added.. – We are releasing these images from June showing Iranian UAVs being inspected that day by a Russian delegation. This indicates that Russia is interested in acquiring such UAVs from Iran.”.
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Sullivan said the US side knew that the June visit " But later, on July 5, the Russian delegation again visited the airfield for a similar demonstration..
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The news comes as Biden is completing his trip to the Middle East, where Iran has been a key point of discussion between the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states..
US intelligence: Iran will provide Russia with hundreds of drones for the war in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, White House officials said newly declassified US intelligence indicates Iran is expected to provide hundreds of drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, and the Middle Eastern country is preparing to begin training Russian troops in command and control techniques.. these UAVs.
In March, there was also information from official Washington that Russia had previously turned to China for help in supporting the war against Ukraine.. However, as of late May, the US had seen no evidence that China was providing any military or economic support to Russia for the invasion, Sullivan told reporters at the time..
Recall that recently the Come Back Alive Foundation bought 100 Atlas unmanned systems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Such UAVs are used in NATO.