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| Satellite image of Alleged Drone Facility in Moscow Image Credit: Google |
In an alarming
escalation of defense cooperation between Iran and Russia, the United States
has accused the Iranian government of assisting in the construction of a drone
manufacturing plant near Moscow.
John Kirby, the
spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, issued a statement
on Friday citing US intelligence findings that revealed Iran's material support
for the plant, which is expected to become operational by early next year.
Alleged Transfer of Iranian Drones for Russian Use in Ukraine:
Furthermore, US
officials reaffirmed their claims that Iran has supplied hundreds of unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones to Russia for deployment in Ukraine, where a
full-scale invasion was initiated in 2022.
Kirby stated
that Russia had been utilizing Iranian UAVs in recent weeks to carry out
strikes in Kyiv and to instill fear among the Ukrainian population.
This situation
has raised concerns about the deepening military partnership between Russia and
Iran.
Suspicions of Joint Production of Iranian UAVs in Russia:
The Biden
administration, a key supporter of Ukraine, had previously alleged that Iran
and Russia were discussing the possibility of establishing a drone assembly
line within Russian territory.
Kirby now
reveals that US intelligence officials believe the manufacturing plant is being
set up in the Alabuga special economic zone, located several hundred miles east
of Moscow.
Strengthening Russia-Iran Partnership and Denials of Drone Usage:
Over the past
few years, Russia and Iran have bolstered their partnership, increasing weapons
sales and exploring strategies to counter US-led efforts to economically
isolate both countries.
However, Russia
has denied the utilization of Iranian-made drones in Ukraine, while Iran has
acknowledged sending drones to Russia but claims that it occurred prior to the
widely condemned Russian invasion in February 2022.
Accusations of Iranian Complicity in the Russian Invasion:
The United
States has accused Iran of complicity in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which
has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of nearly
14 million people, according to the United Nations.
Kirby stated on
Friday that Iran continues to send drones to Russia, shipping them across the
Caspian Sea to the Russian port of Makhachkala.
The Biden
administration has previously imposed sanctions on Iranian defense firms
involved in drone production.
Regional and Global Concerns Over Iran's Proliferation of UAVs:
The US
Treasury, in a March statement announcing further sanctions, expressed concern
over Iran's well-documented proliferation of UAVs and conventional weapons to
its proxies, emphasizing that this poses a threat to both regional security and
global stability.
Ukrainian Response and Accusations Against Iran:
Last month,
Ukraine imposed a package of sanctions on Iran due to its close partnership
with Russia.
Ukraine has
also alleged that Iranian-made drones have been used in Russian attacks on
Ukrainian cities, resulting in civilian casualties.
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy directly addressed Iranians, questioning their
willingness to be "accomplices in Russian terror," a statement that
Iran dismissed as mere "political show."
Accusations of Drone Attacks by Ukraine on Russian Territory:
Russia, on the
other hand, has accused Ukraine of employing drones to launch attacks within
its borders.
Earlier this
week, Russia reported a drone crashing into a residential building in the city
of Voronezh, placing blame on Ukraine for a series of drone attacks in Moscow
in late May.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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