Britain: Disputes at High Levels of Iranian Government Over Drone Sales to Russia Have Begun

The head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency says that "disputes" have erupted at high levels of the Iranian government over the sale of drones to Russia. Richard Moore, speaking in Prague on Wednesday, July 19, described Iran's decision to supply drones to Russia for the war in Ukraine as "unethical" without further elaboration. The U.S. Institute of Peace recently reported that Iran delivered more than 1,700 drones to Russia by the end of last year. According to this report, the sold Iranian drones have a range of capabilities including bomb deployment, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. The U.S. Institute of Peace also reported that Tehran and Moscow began efforts to produce about 6,000 Iranian drones on Russian soil earlier this year. Additionally, see: Exclusive | U.S.: The Islamic Republic Must Be Held Accountable for Drone Deliveries to Russia. Previously, Reuters reported, citing John Kirby, a White House spokesperson, that the Iranian drone production facilities in Russia are likely to be fully operational by early next year. He indicated, based on satellite information, that the production site for these drones is located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the autonomous Republic of Tatarstan in western Russia. John Kirby also stated that Iranian drones are delivered to Russian forces via the Caspian Sea for use in the war against Ukraine. The White House spokesperson expressed concern over the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran in producing Iranian drones within Russian territory. Recently, NATO member countries issued a statement calling for an end to Iran's military support for Russia. The NATO statement emphasized that Russia has attacked Ukraine's critical infrastructure using Iranian drones, resulting in a significant number of civilian casualties. The Islamic Republic claims that it delivered its drones to Ukraine before Russia's invasion. Russia denies the use of Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine, even as images of downed Iranian drones by Ukrainian air defense have been repeatedly released by that country. Meanwhile, the Kayhan newspaper reported on Monday, July 17, that Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, unveiled Iranian "spraying" and "farm inspection" drones during his recent trip to several African countries. The newspaper mentioned that one of the goals of Ebrahim Raisi's trip to Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Uganda was the sale of drones. The U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN: Iran's drone deliveries to Russia are a gross violation of Resolution 2231. The Wall Street Journal: The Islamic Republic is "circumventing" drone sanctions by "copying". Final statement from the NATO summit of 31 member states: Iran should cease drone deliveries to Russia. Ukrainian innovators' efforts to more effectively shoot down Russian "Shahed" drones.