LONDON
Russia is sending a shipment of drones to Iran, including upgraded versions of the same drone technology Tehran originally supplied to Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. and European officials said this week.
For more than a month, Iran has been firing drone barrages at Israel, its Gulf neighbors, and U.S. bases across the Middle East following the U.S. and Israeli attack on the country.
While Iran maintains its own stocks of Shahed drones, Russia has made improvements to the design during the war in Ukraine, including enhanced navigation capabilities.
Russian and Iranian officials have had “very active” discussions this month regarding transferring drones from Russia to Iran, a European intelligence official said
. A U.S. defense official said it remains unclear whether the shipment is a one-time delivery or part of a broader series. Neither official could say how significant the delivery is or how many drones were sent.
Another European official noted that a small number of drones would not have a major impact on the outcome of the war. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
By James Kisoo
