American Senator Calls for Immediate Sanctions on Iranian Drone Manufacturer in Russia

Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas, has urged President Joe Biden in a letter to impose immediate sanctions on a Russian arms manufacturer for collaborating with the Islamic Republic of Iran and producing drones for use against Ukraine. The letter mentions that the Russian company 'JSC Alabuga' is receiving technical assistance from Iran. Senator Cotton has requested the U.S. President to strengthen sanctions against Russia and Iran, calling the sanctioning of the Iranian drone manufacturer in Russia a clear first step in this regard. Cotton states that since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Tehran has strengthened its ties with Russia and provided hundreds of drones for use in the war against Ukraine. He claims that Iran is assisting the Russian company 'JSC Alabuga' in producing its version of the Iranian Shahed-136 suicide drone in Russia under the new name 'Geran-2'. Senator Cotton warns that without sanctions, Alabuga could produce up to six thousand of these drones by September 2025. He emphasizes that this not only strengthens Moscow's attacks against Ukraine but also allows Iranian officials to use their Shahed-136 drones for other malicious purposes as demand from Russia decreases. The letter to the U.S. President stresses that Iran does not share its drone technology for free and expects to receive military equipment, including fighter jets and attack helicopters, from Russia in return for its assistance. Senator Cotton asserts that the Islamic Republic will undoubtedly use such equipment to advance its nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on November 29 that most of the drones used in the largest Russian drone attack against Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, last week were made in Iran. Blinken made this announcement at a press conference on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. Kyiv was targeted on Saturday, November 25, in the largest drone attack by Russia since the war began in March 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also told Fox News, 'We have sent many messages to Iran not to provide drones [to Russia], not to grant permission for the production and construction of new drone manufacturing plants for them.' Meanwhile, U.S. officials have warned that the Islamic Republic is preparing to send advanced short-range missiles to Russia. The U.S. has stated that the military cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Russia is destabilizing and harmful to neighboring countries. Ukraine has urged its Western allies to increase 'defensive production' to counter Russia's aggression. Blinken reiterated that most drones used in the attack on Kyiv were 'made in Iran'. The largest drone attack on Kyiv occurred on the anniversary of the 'Great Famine' in Ukraine. Ukraine shot down 14 Shahed drones; Zelensky stated that they have repeatedly told the Islamic Republic not to supply weapons to Russia. The White House has reported that the Russian Wagner Group intends to deliver military weapons to Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.