US claims Iran has supplied more than 400 drones to Russia since August

May 15. (EUROPE PRESS) –

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday that Iran has supplied more than 400 drones to Russia since last August and warned that the two countries are increasing their military partnership “without precedents”.

“Russia has spent most of these drones to attack critical infrastructure in Ukraine,” Kirby said at a press conference, adding that these actions by Tehran “facilitate” Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to The Hill.

By contrast, Russia has offered military support to Iran through missile and air defense systems. In this sense, Kirby has assured that Tehran is now looking to buy additional equipment worth billions of dollars.

As reported by Kirby, the Biden Administration is already working to impose a new package of sanctions against Iran for its sending consignments of drones to Moscow. Russia is believed to have ordered some 2,400 Shahed-136 drones.

Both Ukraine and the United States have accused Iran of delivering the drones to Russia for use in the war, although Tehran argues that they were sent before the outbreak of the conflict under their military cooperation agreements.

Last Monday, the director of Foreign Affairs of the Iranian Defense Ministry, General Hamzé Ghalandari, stressed that the use of Iranian military technology has meant “a turning point” in international strategy, referring to the Iranian suicide drones used by Russia against Ukrainian targets.