Russia is offering “an unprecedented level” of military and technical support to Iran in exchange for supplies of weapons to continue Moscow’s war in Ukraine, NBC reports citing top-ranked US officials.
According to unnamed senior US administration officials, Russia can possibly be providing modern military equipment and components, including helicopters and air-defence systems, to Tehran.
For instance, Iranian pilots were training to fly Su-35 fighter jets in Russia this spring which, according to the officials, points to the fact that Iran “may begin receiving the aircraft within the next year”.
NBC notes that Russia is hoping for cooperation with Iran on weapon development, potentially establishing a joint venture in Russia to manufacture drones. Earlier, The Washington Post reported that Moscow and Tehran had struck a secret deal to roll out production of drones in Russia.
The US intends to assess “further steps we [Washington] can take in terms of export controls to restrict Iran’s access to sensitive technologies”.
