Iran Says It Will Expand Cooperation With Other Countries On Drones

A top Iranian military official says the Islamic Republic will continue to develop drones according to its interests and Tehran will cooperate with other countries in this regard.

According to IRNA, Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said Sunday that the country’s UAVs are accurate enough to respond to any threat endangering its interests.

This comes as the Biden administration launched a task force last week to see how US and western components are ending up in Iranian drones used in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Although strict measures were in effect to prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining such materials, some evidence shows Tehran has more than enough access to US-made microelectronics that are used in manufacturing drones.

Last month, a UK-based investigative organization found that over 80 percent of the drones downed in Ukraine have components made by US companies.

Kyiv has accused Tehran of supplying 1,700 Shahed-136 loitering munitions to Moscow, which it says have been used to hit targets in Ukraine since September. Iran denies the allegations.

The United States and its European allies, as well as the European Union have sanctioned various Iranian individuals and entities for supplying drones to Russia.