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The US says Russian officials have visited an Iranian airport several times in recent weeks to view attack-capable drones they want to acquire for their attack on Ukraine.
Iran showed the drones to Russian officials at Kashan Airport on June 8 and July 15, the White House said. The Biden administration released satellite images showing Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones flying at the airport at the same time as a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced the administration’s findings.
The administration has “information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs,” Sullivan said in a statement.
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White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House, February 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (AP)
UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.
“We believe that an official Russian delegation recently received a demonstration of Iranian drones capable of attacking. We are releasing these images taken in June showing the Iranian drones that the Russian government delegation saw that day,” Sullivan said. “This suggests continued Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable drones.”
Sullivan also said the US understands the June visit is the first time a Russian delegation has “visited this airport for such a showcase”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolakhian said in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart on Friday that US accusations of Russia’s acquisition of Iranian drones for a war against Ukraine are “groundless”.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolakhian said he rejected US accusations that Iranian drones were acquired by Russia for a war against Ukraine. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, file)
“These kinds of statements, parallel to Biden’s visit to occupied Palestine or Israel, are in the direction of political intentions and goals,” Amirabdolakhian said, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry website. “We oppose any move that could lead to the continuation and intensification of conflicts.
Iran has supplied UAVs to its Middle Eastern allies and on Friday announced its first naval drone division in the Indian Ocean.
It comes as President Joe Biden visits the Middle East to explain his vision for the region. He is expected to meet Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and discuss the deployment of missile and defense capabilities in the region to counter Iranian drone and missile attacks.
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President Joe Biden is visiting the Middle East to explain his vision for the region. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“Russia is effectively betting on Iran, and we are betting on a more integrated, more stable, more peaceful and prosperous Middle East region,” a senior US administration official told reporters on Saturday.
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Biden pressed Arab countries to toughen their stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. None of the countries represented at the meeting followed the US in sanctioning Russia.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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