Iranian Commander Visits Russia’s Army 2023 Expo

Iran’s Army Ground Forces Commander Kioumars Haydari has traveled to Moscow as Iranian-made drones are on display in a military exhibition.

Invited by his Russian counterpart, Haydari is scheduled to visit several military technology and education centers as well as holding meetings with officials from the Russian armed forces and the Ministry of Defense.

Several other Iranian military officials have also visited Russia's annual Army International Military-Technical Forum which opened in Moscow last week. Iran’s delegation, led by Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Aziz Nasirzadeh, has been a consistent presence at the event, dubbed Army 2023.

Last week, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu also visited Iran’s military stand at the Army 2023 Forum, an event where Russia’s leading defense companies displayed some 1,500 of their products.

According to the Moscow Times, the event is an opportunity for Moscow to show off its "war trophies," Ukrainian and Western-made equipment captured on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Iran has previously denied allegations of sending armed drones to Russia during the conflict that ensued after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Iranian government stated that any such shipments, if they did occur, took place before the war. However, Russia has used hundreds of these drones indicating recurring shipments.

Nevertheless, Russia's utilization of Iranian-made drones for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets has drawn international criticism. Western powers have raised concerns over Iran's involvement in arming Russia with these drones, along with the possibility of supplying additional weaponry and ammunition.