Iran Used Boats, State Airline To Smuggle Advanced Drones To Russia: Report

The Islamic Republic of Iran has used boats and a state-owned aircraft to smuggle advanced long-range drones to Russia, the Guardian reported on February 12.

At least 18 of the higher-flying drones were delivered to Moscow for use in its war on Ukraine after Russian officers and technicians visited Tehran in November, the British newspaper quoted sources inside Iran as saying.

The Russian delegation reportedly selected six Mohajer-6 drones, which have a range of around 200 kilometers and carry two missiles under each wing, and 12 Shahed 191 and 129 drones, which also have an air-to-ground strike capability.

The drones are meant to deliver bombs and return to base undamaged, unlike the Shahed 131 and 136 drones that have been used by Russia in kamikaze raids against targets in Ukraine.

Most of the advanced drones supplied to Russia were picked up by an Iranian vessel on the Caspian Sea's coast and then transferred at sea to a Russian navy boat, the Guardian reported. Others were flown aboard an aircraft of a state-owned airline.

The drones were produced in the military factory in the central Iranian city of Isfahan that was targeted on January 28 by what was believed to have been an Israeli drone, according to the report.

Last week, Ukrainian intelligence estimated that Russia had used approximately 660 Iranian-made Shahed drones in its war in Ukraine.

The European Union, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities for manufacturing and supplying the drones.

Tehran has acknowledged supplying drones to Moscow but said this was before Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Reports say Russia is also attempting to obtain ballistic missiles from Iran.