After months of providing the Kremlin with drones to supplement Moscow’s dwindling supply of missiles to use against Ukraine, Iran is moving closer to an outright military partnership with Russia, according to American intelligence.
The two pariah states are preparing to bolster one another’s forces in an arrangement that could involve the sale of ballistic missiles, warplanes and helicopters — as well as joint production of lethal drones, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday.
“Iran is providing Russia with drones for use on the battlefield in Ukraine,” Kirby said. “In exchange, Russia is offering Iran an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their relationship into a full-fledged defense partnership.”
“We are concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with advanced military components,” Kirby added. “Moscow may be providing Tehran with equipment such as helicopters and air defense systems.
“As of this spring, Iranian pilots have reportedly been training in Russia to learn how to fly the SU-35,” the spokesman went on, referencing Russia’s front-line fighter jet.
“Iran has become Russia’s top military backer,” Kirby said. “This partnership poses a threat not just to Ukraine, but to Iran’s neighbors in the region.”
Iranian-made suicide drones have been filling Ukrainian skies since September, part of the Kremlin’s ongoing bombardment campaign against its neighbor’s civilian infrastructure — though Ukrainian forces reported encountering the triangular flying bombs earlier in the war.
The so-called “loitering munitions” are thought to be supplementing a Kremlin arsenal depleted by nine months of bombardment against Ukrainian infrastructure.
US intelligence also indicates that Iran may be considering the sale of ballistic missiles to Russia as part of their burgeoning partnership, Kirby said. Intelligence also indicates that the two nations hope to jointly produce more lethal drones for use by both Russian and Iranian forces in their respective theaters.
“We expect Iranian support for the Russian military to only grow in coming months,” Kirby added. “We’re looking at options to bring together a group of like-minded countries to discuss Iran-Russian military cooperation.”
No comments:
Post a Comment