The White House reported on June 9 that Russia is likely deepening defense cooperation with Iran and has received hundreds of attack drones for use in Ukraine.
Source: John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, as reported by European Pravda citing Reuters
Quote: “Russia has used Iranian drones in recent weeks to strike at kyiv and terrorize the Ukrainian population, and the Russian-Iranian military partnership appears to be deepening,” Kirby reported.
“We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian drones from inside Russia,” he added.
Details: Kirby noted that the United States has evidence that Russia is receiving equipment from Iran to build a drone manufacturing plant that could be fully operational early next year.
“We are releasing satellite images of the planned location of this drone manufacturing plant in the Alabuga special economic zone in Russia,” he said.
Kirby noted that Iran-Russia cooperation is a two-way street, as Iran seeks billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia, including helicopters and radars.
“Russia has offered Iran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics and air defense,” Kirby said.
“This is a large-scale defense partnership that is detrimental to Ukraine, Iran’s neighbors and the international community. We continue to use every tool at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities, including sharing them with the public – and we’re ready to do more,” the White House official added.
Kirby said the transfer of drones was a violation of United Nations rules and that the United States would seek to hold both countries accountable.
Background: On June 9, the White House released a satellite image indicating that Iran is supplying Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing facility east of Moscow.
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