Themacforums – Ukraine War – US Says Iran Now Russia’s ‘Top Military Backer’. The US claims that there is now a full-fledged defence alliance between Russia and Iran. Russian military assistance is at an unprecedented level, according to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
The US is aware of claims that the two nations are thinking about producing deadly drones together, he continued.
Australia has declared that it is imposing sanctions against three Iranians and one Iranian company for providing drones to Russia for use against Ukraine.
Recently, cooperation between Iran and Russia has come to light after Ukraine accused Russia of utilizing Iranian drones in its strikes.
Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the Middle Eastern nation that had previously denied supplying any drones to Russia eventually acknowledged doing so.
According to Mr Kirby, a joint drone-production venture between Iran and Russia would be detrimental to Ukraine, Iran’s neighbours, and the international community.
- Zelensky claims Iran lied about its help from Russia.
- new concerns stem from Russia-Iran relations related to Ukraine
He added that the US was concerned that Russia sought to “supply Iran with advanced military components,” such as helicopters and air defence systems. “Russia is attempting to engage with Iran in areas like weapons development and training,” he said.
He declared, “Iran has emerged as Russia’s principal military ally. “Russia has been attacking energy infrastructure with Iranian drones, depriving millions of Ukrainians of heat, electricity, and other essential services. Iran’s activities are currently causing people to die in Ukraine.”
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly responded to Mr Kirby’s remarks by claiming that Iran had turned into one of Russia’s primary military allies and that their alliance was endangering international security.
Iran has sent hundreds of drones to Russia as part of the “sordid negotiations” between the two nations, he claimed.
He continued, “In exchange, Russia is providing military and technical support to the Iranian government, increasing the risk it poses to our Middle Eastern allies and global security.
He claimed that the UK and the US both agreed that Iranian military assistance to Russia would increase in the upcoming months as Russia sought to acquire additional weaponry, including hundreds of ballistic missiles.
Iran is accused by Ukraine of providing Russia with “kamikaze” drones used in a string of attacks on October 17 that left at least eight people dead.
Iran initially denied doing so but then acknowledged providing a “small number” of drones to Russia “several months” before the Ukraine War.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said this was a hoax and that Ukraine was shooting down roughly 10 Iranian drones a day.
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, issued the following statement on Saturday: “The sale of drones to Russia is proof of Iran’s contribution to the weakening of international security. This listing emphasises that individuals who give Russia material help will suffer the repercussions.”
Following the murder of Mahsa Amini, 22, in jail earlier this year, she also announced actions against 19 additional people and two companies, including Iran’s Morality Police, for the cruel treatment of anti-government protestors.
Additional developments
- Following months of deadly combat in the eastern Donbas region, President Zelensky claims that Russia has reduced the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to “burnt ruins.”
- Belarus will permit the transit of Ukrainian grain via its borders for export through Lithuanian ports, according to the UN.
- Oleksandra Matviichuk of the Centre for Civil Liberties, the head of a Ukrainian human rights group that shared this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, has urged nations to establish an international tribunal to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- Despite a global ban, the International Olympic Committee says it will look into a proposal to enable athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in sporting events in Asia.
