United States: The United States has accused the Iranian government of helping Russia build a drone manufacturing plant near Moscow in an escalation of their defence cooperation.

In a statement, White House National Security Council spokesman Mr. John Kirby cited US intelligence findings that indicated Iran had provided material support for the plant, which could be operational by early next year.

US officials also double-downed on claims that Iran has sent hundreds of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia for use in Ukraine, where a full-scale invasion was launched in 2022.

“Russia has been using Iranian UAVs in recent weeks to strike Kyiv and terrorise the Ukrainian population, and the Russia-Iran military partnership appears to be deepening. We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia,” Mr. Kirby remarked in the statement.

The administration of US President Mr. Joe Biden, Ukraine’s most important supporter, had previously alleged that Iran and Russia were discussing the possibility of setting up a drone assembly line inside of Russia.

Mr. Kirby noted that US intelligence officials now believe that the manufacturing plant is being set up in the Alabuga special economic zone, several hundred miles east of Moscow.

Russia and Iran have indeed strengthened their partnership in recent years, stepping up weapons sales and exploring ways to outmanoeuvre US-led efforts to economically isolate the two countries.

Mr. Kirby further added that Iran has continued to send drones to Russia, shipping them across the Caspian Sea to the Russian port of Makhachkala. The Biden administration has previously sanctioned Iranian defence firms involved in drone production.

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