Russia-Iran military alliance puts the West on alert
Military cooperation between Russia and Iran in the midst of the war in Ukraine continues to raise concerns among Western diplomats. Since Iranian drones were first discovered in Ukraine last September, the Tehran regime has continued to supply unmanned aerial vehicles to the Russian military as it prepares to send other weapons, such as ballistic missiles, Western military officials warned in early November.
So far, Russia has not received such missiles, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told The Guardian. Podolyak told the British newspaper that "the great diplomatic pressure and protests have increased the pressure on the Iranian government". The presidential adviser also stresses that, due to internal problems, Tehran 'does not have time to deal with Russia'.
However, while the Iranian regime is facing a historic wave of protests and strong international pressure, the West continues to view Tehran's role in the war in Ukraine with suspicion. Recently, US National Security spokesman John Kirby claimed that Russia and Iran are developing 'large-scale' military cooperation.
As Kirby explained during a press briefing, the level of partnership between Moscow and Tehran has reached "an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their relationship into a full-fledged defence partnership". The US warnings follow those of the UK, which considers Iran "Russia's main military backer".
In late November, London also noted that Russia had "probably exhausted its stockpile" of Iranian drones, but would likely seek new supplies, particularly "hundreds of ballistic missiles". According to the UK, Iran's military support for Russian troops will increase, while the Kremlin will offer Tehran 'unprecedented' military and technical support.
??The wreckage of the downed Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone#Iran #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/be2rqkYgAM
— Ukraine-Russia war (@UkraineRussia2) December 3, 2022
Both countries stand to benefit from this military partnership. On the one hand, Russia seeks to acquire new weaponry, including defence systems, helicopters and fighter jets, according to diplomatic sources quoted by AP. Meanwhile, this cooperation is strengthening the military capabilities of Iranian forces amid protests sparked by the murder of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September. Russia is also reportedly training Iranian pilots to fly Sukhoi Su-35 fighters. "These fighter jets will significantly strengthen Iran's air force relative to its regional neighbours," Kirby said.
As a senior National Security Council official revealed to the news agency, Washington is increasingly concerned that Russia may seek to acquire more advanced conventional weapons from Iran, especially missiles. Meanwhile, a United Nations diplomat told the AP that Iran plans to sell Russia "hundreds of missiles and drones", which would violate the 2015 Security Council resolution that backed the nuclear deal.
#Iran is giving hundreds of drones to Russia, breaking international law
— UK at the UN ???? (@UKUN_NewYork) December 9, 2022
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Russia uses these to kill civilians & target civilian infrastructure in #Ukraine
As Russia now attempts to obtain more ballistic missiles, @BWoodward_UN calls for @UN to investigate this illegal supply pic.twitter.com/Syn2rMP2Qh
Kirby also denounced that these military exchanges do not respect the resolutions adopted by the UN body. For this reason, Washington is "using the necessary tools to disrupt these activities".
On the other hand, the UN diplomat wonders what Russia will give Iran in exchange for the drones and missiles. The arms package being prepared by Iran - which has not yet been shipped - could have "massive security implications for the region", according to the source.
As the Kremlin seeks more Iranian weaponry, the Ukrainian population continues to suffer the consequences of brutal Russian attacks. In the midst of winter, Moscow has targeted the country's energy infrastructure, leaving several Ukrainian cities in the dark and without heating. Odessa was one of the latest Ukrainian cities to suffer power cuts due to Russian shelling. According to Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, more than 1.5 million people in and around Odessa have been left without electricity.
Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.
