Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin with the head of Iranian armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Tehran, Iran, December 3, 2022
Spurred by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia is providing an “unprecedented level” of military and technical support to Iran, in return for the supply of Iranian drones, say US officials.
Iran has delivered hundreds of Shahed-136 attack drones and Mohajer-6 surveillance drones — Ukrainian officials say about 2,500 — for Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and other civilian sites.
See also Iran Delivers Drones to Russia for Moscow’s Troubled Ukraine Invasion
The US officials say that, in return, Russia may be providing Iran with advanced military equipment and components, including helicopters and air defense systems.
UK military intellligence echoed, in a report released on Saturday, that Russia is trying to obtain more Iranian weapons, including hundreds of ballistic missiles.
In return Russia is highly likely offering Iran an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their defence relationship.
In the spring, soon after the launch of Putin’s invasion, Iranian pilots trained in Russia to fly the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet. US officials believe Iran “may begin receiving the aircraft within the next year.
US and Iranian officials said last month that Tehran is considering the supply of ballistic missiles to Moscow, although no deliveries have been agreed. Meanwhile, the Russians are seeking collaboration on weapons development, including a joint production line for drones in Russia.
See also Ukraine War, Day 270: Iran to Make Drones in Russia — Western Officials
The supply of Iranian drones diminished or even paused in November, and the Russians seem to have almost exhausted their stocks, using no drone in their latest waves of missile strikes.
See also Ukraine War, Day 286: Russia’s Missile Attack is Blunted…and Its Airfields Are Struck
Nikolai Patrushev, the Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, visited Tehran in November. The talks did not bring immediate results. However, the Iranian supply appears to have resumed after a December 3 meeting in Tehran between Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col-Gen. Alexander Fomin and the head of Iran’s armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri.
“We Urge Iran to Reverse Course”
A “senior US administration official” says, “We have shared this information with partners in the Middle East and around the world.”
Washington is “looking at options to bring together a group of like-minded countries” to discuss the situation, and is working with other nations to ensure Russia and Iran cannot move equipment, weapons, or money.
One official summarized:
We are imposing costs on the actors involved in the transfer of Iranian UAVs to Russia for use in Ukraine. We are assessing further steps we can take in terms of export controls to restrict Iran’s access to sensitive technologies.
Another added, “We urge Iran to reverse course and not to take these steps. We are using the tools at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities — and we are prepared to do more.”
[Editor’s Note: The standard caveats on this commenter’s spin — the number of protests is from a person who only records protests where he has seen a video.]
Protest update: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h5-7GfUpi3RHjwKCNCp-bhVpuiYtUEc4kjWRGW5ZM9Y/edit#
485 claimed protester deaths (names collected from sources of varying reliability/credibility)
251 confirmed protester deaths (identities verified)
Number of cities that have experienced protests: 160
Number of universities that have experienced protests: 143
Number of cities now protesting: 3
Number of universities now protesting: 3
Note: There are 1245 cities across Iran and 306 universities/colleges. A city can be a town of just 1,000 persons.
If Iran is getting advanced Su-35s as a result of helping Russia, then that proves its policy was sensible. The Americans and Israelis would have something else to worry about. Also, Ukraine cannot be allowed to become a forward base for the Americans to launch an attack against Iran with its B-2s and F-22s.
The SCO should become another NATO to replace the defunct Warsaw Pact.
Your years of study at West Point have made you quite a military strategists.
But back to your kosesher(speaking out your genital specialty), B2s fly straight from the US and F22 fly from Gulf region