US State Department: Russian officials conducted training in Iran as part of a drone deal between the two countries
The US State Department said on Thursday that Russian officials had trained in Iran over the past few weeks as part of an agreement related to the transfer of drones between the two countries.
US officials said last month that Washington believed Iran was preparing to supply Russia with up to several hundred drones, including those that could be armed, and that Russian officials had visited Iran to view attack drones.
The claim has raised fears that Iran, which supplies drones to its Middle Eastern allies, is now supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine.
The Iranian foreign minister denied the allegation at the time, and even phoned his Ukrainian counterpart to assure him that this would not happen.
US State Department deputy spokesman Vidant Patel told reporters during a telephone briefing Thursday that Russian officials have conducted training in Iran “over the past several weeks”.
He added that the United States would “vigorously enforce” its sanctions on Russian and Iranian arms trade.
Patel said that transfers of drones between the two countries are “potentially subject to sanctions under various authorities”.
“We remain very concerned about Iran’s use and proliferation of drones,” he said.
It has been used to attack US forces, our partners in the region, and international shipping entities”.
