US: Iran aims to send drones to Russia for use in Ukraine
White House releases intel linking Iran to Russia's war on Ukraine just days before President Joe Biden is set to meet Israeli, Arab leaders.
Iran is preparing to send armed drones to Russia for use in the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine, according to declassified US intelligence revealed by the White House on Monday.
“Our information indicates that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred UAVs [drones], including weapons-capable UAVs, on an expedited timeline,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters today.
Sullivan also said Iran’s government has planned to begin training Russian troops as soon as “early July” on how to deploy the weapons. It remains unclear whether Tehran has sent any drones to Russia yet, he noted.
Why it Matters: Sullivan's announcement comes days before US President Joe Biden's meetings with regional leaders in Israel and Saudi Arabia later this week, where Iran will be on high on the agenda.
