Last week, the White House warned that Russia and Iran were in talks about a joint weapons production project.
The news comes as Moscow and Tehran seem to be strengthening their alliance with reports that Russia is sourcing drones from Iran to use in its fight with Ukraine, ABC News reports.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Moscow and Tehran “are considering the establishment of a joint production line for lethal drones in Russia.”
Experts noted that Russia has recently used its own drone stockpiles, and drone strikes from Russia have slowed since mid-November. According to The Hill, a public British intelligence assessment said that Russia has likely “very nearly exhausted its current stock but will probably seek resupply.”
Kirby said it wasn’t clear how Iran would react to a proposal but noted that Russia could potentially offer Iran “an unprecedented level of military and technical support,” such as advanced military components.
“What I want to convey to everybody is the forest in front of us, which is a deepening and a burgeoning defense partnership, nearly full-fledged here, between Russia and Iran,” he said. “And I think it’s important because … this burgeoning relationship, partnership, between these two countries is not just bad for the people of Ukraine … but it’s dangerous for the region, for the Middle East region, for Iran’s neighbors.”
British foreign secretary James Cleverly said that “the UK will continue to expose this desperate alliance and hold both countries to account.”
“The UK is concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with more advanced military components, allowing the regime to strengthen their weapons capability, further increasing the risk to both regional and international security.”
Britain’s U.N. ambassador, Barbara Woodward, also issued a statement last week, accusing Russia of offering “unprecedented” military and technical support in exchange for the drones.
“We are concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with more advanced military components, which will allow Iran to strengthen their weapons capability,” she said. “So it is imperative that the truth about Iran’s supply to Russia is exposed and is investigated by the U.N. as soon as possible.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Oleksii Liskonih
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
