Russia Denies Western Claims of Supplying Drones, Intelligence to Iran

Russia has denied reports that it is secretly supplying drones and other support to Iran amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel, calling such claims “fake” and misleading. A report by the Financial Times, citing Western intelligence assessments, alleged that Russia has begun shipping drones to Iran this month, with deliveries expected to be completed in phases by the end of March. The report also claimed that Moscow is providing food, medical supplies, intelligence inputs, and satellite imagery to Tehran.

Responding to the allegations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims, stating that “a lot of fakes” are circulating. He confirmed, however, that Russia continues to maintain diplomatic dialogue with Iranian leadership. If confirmed, the drone shipments would mark the first instance of direct lethal support from Moscow to Tehran since the conflict escalated on February 28. Intelligence sources cited in the report said discussions on drone transfers began shortly after strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iranian targets.

Drones have played a critical role in the conflict, with Iran reportedly deploying over 3,000 low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles. Russia, which has previously used Iranian-designed drones in its war in Ukraine, is believed to have adapted similar models for enhanced payload capacity and improved evasion capabilities. The report suggested that the drones under consideration could include variants like the Geran-2, derived from Iran’s Shahed-136 platform. However, details on the exact models being supplied remain unclear.

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Meanwhile, Israel is said to have targeted a suspected military supply route between Russia and Iran across the Caspian Sea last week, highlighting growing concerns over deepening military cooperation between the two countries.

Iran has also reportedly sought advanced air defence systems from Russia, including the S-400. However, Moscow is believed to have declined the request, wary of escalating tensions with Washington. Operating such sophisticated systems would require significant Russian involvement, potentially risking direct confrontation with US forces.

Although Russia and Iran formalised a strategic partnership agreement last year, it does not include a mutual defence clause. Analysts suggest Moscow is attempting to balance its support for Tehran while avoiding a broader geopolitical escalation.

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