“We have information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs, including weapons-capable UAVs,” Sullivan told CNN. “We assess that an official Russian delegation recently received a display case of Iranian attack-capable UAVs,” Sullivan added. “We are publishing these images taken in June showing Iranian UAVs seen by the Russian government delegation that day. This indicates continued Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs.” Sullivan said that as far as the US was aware, the June visit “was the first time a Russian delegation visited this airport for such a showcase”. A Russian delegation visited the airport for a similar exhibition again on July 5, officials said. The news comes as Biden wraps up his trip to the Middle East, where Iran has been a key point of discussion between the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. A US official told CNN that the growing partnership between Iran and Russia is an example of why the US needs to maintain its presence and influence in the Middle East. Hopes of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal have dimmed after stalled talks in Doha, Qatar, last month. White House officials revealed earlier this week that newly declassified US intelligence shows that Iran is expected to supply Russia with “hundreds” of drones for use in the war in Ukraine, as Iran prepares to begin training Russian forces on how they operate as early as the end of July. Russia, the US now believes, has apparently turned to Iran to help replenish its drone stockpile. However, it is unclear how sophisticated or effective these drones will be. Russia had previously turned to China for help supporting its war in Ukraine, US officials revealed in March. As of late May, the US had seen no evidence that China had provided any military or financial support to Russia for the invasion, Sullivan told reporters at the time.
