Russia is sending military aid, including drones, to support Iran’s war against the United States and Israel, according to Western intelligence reports.
Iran has backed Russia’s war against Ukraine by sending hundreds of its one-way attack drones to Moscow and helping to create manufacturing plants in Russia for it to produce additional drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin is now returning the favor by sending a shipment of drones, medicine, and food to Iran, Western officials briefed on the intelligence said, according to the Financial Times.
The processing of deliveries began in early March and was expected to be completed by the end of the month, officials said. Moscow has additionally provided Iran with satellite imagery, targeting data, and other intelligence support, according to the report.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Pentagon and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for comment, but did not receive a response.
The development comes after the U.S. publicly sought to downplay fears earlier this month that Iran has a critical backer in Russia amid reports that Moscow was feeding Tehran intelligence to target American forces.
“It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “As I said earlier, we’ve taken out nearly 30 of their ships. Their navy has been deemed combat ineffective. 90% reduction in ballistic missile retaliatory strikes against the United States and our Gulf, Arab, and partners in the region.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week, “There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true — we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership.”
The war has stretched on for nearly a month since the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Feb. 28. The Trump administration has hoped the conflict would likely last between four and six weeks. The White House said Wednesday that the administration is “very close to meeting the core objectives” of the operation.
The U.S. says it is negotiating with Iran to reach a settlement ending the conflict after Trump announced on Tuesday he was pausing strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, “SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS,” though Iran has denied such talks and rejected U.S. conditions for ending the war.
“The president’s preference is always peace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction,” Leavitt said Wednesday. “But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment …[Trump] is prepared to unleash hell.”