Iran Ships Drones Across Caspian Sea, U.S. Says

 WASHINGTON—The U.S. said Friday that Iran ships drones to Russia over the Caspian Sea en route to the battlefield in Ukraine, declassifying intelligence to show the two countries’ deepening security relationship. The Biden administration for the first time said that Iranian drones and associated equipment have been shipped across the Caspian from the Port of Amirabad in Iran to Makhachkala, Russia, then transported overland to airports near the front for deployment against Ukrainian troops. The U.S. also released a satellite image it said showed a location in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone where Russia and Iran are building a drone-manufacturing plant. The plant is expected to be operational early next year, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Moscow and Tehran are building a factory at Alabuga that could make at least 6,000 Iranian-designed drones for the war in Ukraine. As part of the emerging BY VIVIAN SALAMA AND GORDON LUBOLD military alliance, a high-level Iranian delegation flew to Russia in early January to visit the planned site for the factory and hammer out details to get the project up and running, said officials from a country aligned with the U.S. “We have information that Russia is receiving materials from Iran,” Kirby said Friday. “This is a full-scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to Iran’s neighbors, and to the international community.” For months, the Biden administration has said that Iran was fueling Russia’s efforts in Ukraine and has warned of growing consequences if those activities continue. The U.S. and the European Union have imposed sanctions on the Iranian drone maker and affiliated individuals, who those governments say supplied Russia with weapons used in Ukraine. As part of this effort, the administration issued a new U.S. government advisory Friday aimed at informing businesses and other governments about Iran’s drone program and how it procures the various components. The aim, Kirby said, is to have those governments and businesses implement measures to ensure they aren’t inadvertently contributing to Iran’s drone program. Russia has been using Iranian drones to strike Ukraine, and the Biden administration says that the military partnership appears to be deepening. In return for the drones, the U.S. said, Russia is providing Iran with “unprecedented defense cooperation,” including missiles, electronics, and air defense. Iran said early this year that it would look to buy Russian-made Su-35 jet fighters. Tehran also is looking to purchase other military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars, and YAK-130 combat trainer aircraft, Kirby said. Russian ships also have ferried large quantities of Iranian artillery shells and other ammunition across the Caspian Sea to resupply troops fighting in Ukraine, Middle East officials have said. The administration has declassified intelligence to draw scrutiny to Russian and Iranian actions and influence their behavior.

BY VIVIAN SALAMA AND GORDON LUBOLD

Source: Saturday/Sunday, June 10 - 11, 2023