Russia faces ‘numerous failures’ with Iran-supplied drones for Ukraine war: US – National

Biden administration officials say Russia has had technical problems with Iranian-made drones it acquired from Tehran this month for use in its war with Ukraine.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the US intelligence agency’s assessment, did not address the “numerous errors.” They added that the US estimates that the delivery of Mohajer-6 and Shahed series UAVs over several days this month is likely part of a Russian plan to acquire hundreds of Iranian UAVs.

The Associated Press reported last week that Russia recently received hundreds of Iranian drones that could be used in its war against Ukraine, despite US warnings to Tehran not to send them. The Washington Post first reported that Russia had technical problems with the Iranian drones.

Russian operators are continuing to receive training in Iran on how to use these systems, which can conduct air-to-ground attacks, electronic warfare and target tracking, on the battlefield in Ukraine, officials said.

The Biden administration released satellite images last month showing Russian officials visited Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 5 to look at the Iranian drones. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed at the time that the administration had “information that the Iranian government is preparing to supply Russia with several hundred unmanned aerial vehicles.”

Faced with economic sanctions and restrictions on its supply chains due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is turning to Iran as a key partner and arms supplier. Russian planes were loaded with the UAV equipment at an airfield in Iran for several days this month before the weapons were flown to Russia, officials said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that the government had “no update” on whether the drones had been delivered. He added that the US “hasn’t seen anything that gives us any sense of comfort” and that “sourcing and delivery is yet to come, yet to come.”

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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein-Amir Abdollahian said last month that Tehran has “various forms of cooperation with Russia, including in the defense sector.”

“But we will not help any of the sides involved in this war because we believe it (the war) must be stopped,” he said.

Administration officials confirmed details of Iran’s delivery of drones to Russia at a time when the White House is also trying to get Tehran to resume compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

The administration last week completed its review of Iran’s comments on a European proposal to resume the deal, negotiated during President Barack Obama’s administration and scrapped in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump.