Iran has launched exercises to test its combat and reconnaissance aircraft, amid US concerns that Tehran may supply Moscow with Iranian-made drones for use in the war in Ukraine.
State TV reported that the two-day war games will include 150 drones and will cover Iran’s Gulf coast and most of its territory. It will also test the capabilities of the country’s air defenses and “electronic warfare” once morest imaginary enemy drones.
The Islamic Republic and the regional powers that support it have relied increasingly on drones in the past few years in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States said earlier this month that Russian officials had trained in Iran as part of an agreement related to the transfer of drones between the two countries. US officials also indicated last month that Washington believed Iran was preparing to supply Russia with up to several hundred drones. The Iranian foreign minister denied the accusation at the time, and even phoned his Ukrainian counterpart to assure him that this would not happen.
Iran has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes that prevent it from importing many weapons. Western military analysts say Tehran sometimes exaggerates its armament capabilities, although concerns regarding its ballistic missiles contributed to Washington’s exit from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
