Russian Official Undergoes Drone Operation Training In Iran, USA: We Are Very Concerned

Illustration drone Shahed 121 (kiri) dan Shahed 129 beserta bom berpemandu Sadid 345 milik Iran. (Wikimedia Commons/Fars Media Corporation/Meysan Mah'abadi)

JAKARTA - Russian officials have undergone training in recent weeks in Iran, as part of a deal on the transfer of Moscow drones with Tehran, the US State Department said.

US State Department deputy spokesman, Vedant Patel told, reporters Thursday that Russian officials had been conducting drone operations training in Iran in recent weeks.

He explained that the United States would firmly enforce sanctions on the arms trade between Russia and Iran.

According to him, the transfer of drones between the two countries is potentially subject to sanctions by many authorities.

"We remain deeply concerned about Iran's use and proliferation of UAVs. They have been used to attack US forces, our partners in the region, and international shipping entities", said Patel, as reported by Reuters on August 12.

Last month, U.S. officials said they had information that Iran was preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred drones, including some capable of carrying weapons.

It said Russian officials had also visited Iran, to see an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of striking.

The claim raises concerns that Iran, which has supplied drones to its Middle Eastern allies, is now providing support to Russia for the war in Ukraine.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the time denied the claims, including in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart.

"We have various forms of cooperation with Russia, including in the defense sector. But we do not help any of the parties involved in the Ukraine conflict, because we believe it must be resolved", he said, as reported by TASS.

Interestingly, Commander of the Iranian Army Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari revealed that Iran was ready to export advanced weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to friendly countries, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran last month.