How does Iran ship drones to Russia?

How did Iran ship UAVs to Russia?

A report published on November 3 by Sprotyv, a website affiliated with Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, revealed the route Iran used to transfer UAVs to Russia.

According to the report, Iran used four airlines, three of which were state-owned and one linked to the Iranian regime, as well as naval transport units using fleets of companies affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

A UAV is launched from a warship during an Iranian military exercise. Photo: Iranian Army

The three state-owned airlines are Iran Air, which is controlled by Iran’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Pouya Air, which is controlled by the IRGC, and Saha Airlines, which is controlled by the Iranian Air Force. The other airline believed to be involved is Mahan Air, which has faced sanctions from the US Treasury.

The report also said that maritime transport passes through the Caspian Sea as well as other routes. In addition, no less than200 UAVs disassembledexpected to arrive in Russia by sea in November.

Neither Russia nor Iran has commented on the information.

The report was published after the Ukrainian Defense Ministry issued a request for information regarding Iran's arms supplies to Russia.

“We request to provide any information that would help identify possible routes through which Iran could supply weapons to Russia and identify specific people responsible for these supplies,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, officials from a Western country closely monitoring Iran's weapons program also told CNN that Iran is preparing to send more attack drones, along with short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, to Russia for use in a special military operation in Ukraine.

The most recent shipment from Iran to Russia included about 450 UAVs, the officials also said.

Tehran will “not ignore” if Russia uses Iranian UAVs in Ukraine

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian said Tehran had reached an agreement with Kiev to examine evidence that Russia had used Iranian UAVs in Ukraine.

“We have agreed with the Ukrainian foreign minister that they will provide us with any documents they have on the use of Iranian UAVs in Ukraine by Russia,” Amirabdollahian said, adding that an Iranian delegation had planned to meet Ukrainian officials in Europe to discuss the issue but Kiev later canceled the meeting.

“We had planned such a meeting two weeks ago in a European country, a military and political delegation went to that European country, but unfortunately at the last minute the Ukrainian delegation did not attend due to pressure from the US and some European countries, especially Germany,” Mr. Amirabdollahian revealed.

Iran's foreign minister said he spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba last week and the two sides agreed to let Iran review any evidence Ukraine has in the coming days.

“Of course, if it is proven that Russia used Iranian UAVs in the war against Ukraine, we will not ignore this issue. Our position regarding the Russia-Ukraine issue is to end the conflict, bring the parties to the negotiating table and return the displaced people to their homes,” Mr. Amirabdollahian emphasized./.