The US says Russian officials have visited an Iranian airfield several times in recent weeks to view attack-capable drones they want to acquire for their attack on Ukraine. Iran showed the drones to Russian officials at Kashan Airport on June 8 and July 15, the White House said. The Biden administration released satellite images showing the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones flying into the airport at the same time a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced the administration’s findings. The administration has “information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs,” Sullivan said in a statement. UKRAINIANS DEFEND BELARUS INVASION UNTIL JULY, escalating PUTIN’S WAR White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press conference at the White House, February 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (AP) UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. “We assess that an official Russian delegation recently received a display of attack-capable Iranian UAVs. We are publishing these images taken in June showing Iranian UAVs seen by the Russian government delegation that day,” Sullivan said. “This suggests continued Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs.” Sullivan also said the US understood the June visit was the first time a Russian delegation had “visited this airport for such a showcase”. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolahian said in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart on Friday that US accusations of Iranian drones being acquired by Russia to wage war against Ukraine are “baseless”. BELARUS STARTS MILITARY FENCES ON BORDER WITH UKRAINE, TESTS TROOP READINESS Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolahian said he denied US accusations that Iranian drones were acquired by Russia for war against Ukraine. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, File) “This kind of claims, along with Biden’s visit to occupied Palestine or Israel, is in the direction of political intentions and purposes,” Amirabdollahian said, according to Iran’s foreign ministry website. “We are opposed to any move that could lead to the continuation and intensification of conflicts.” Iran has supplied UAVs to its allies in the Middle East and on Friday announced the first naval drone transport division in the Indian Ocean. This comes as President Joe Biden visits the Middle East to explain his vision for the region. He is expected to meet with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and discuss deploying missile and defense capabilities in the region to counter Iran’s drone and missile attacks. EUROPEAN NATIONS COORDINATE TO PROSECUTE RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE President Joe Biden visits the Middle East to explain his vision for the region. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) “Russia is essentially betting on Iran, and we are betting on a more integrated, more stable, more peaceful and prosperous Middle East region,” a senior US administration official told reporters on Saturday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Biden pressed Arab countries to toughen their stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. None of the countries represented at the summit followed the US in imposing sanctions on Russia. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
