- As Iran displays long-range Mohajer-10 drones at Russian defence exhibit
The United States warned Iran on Monday against sending ballistic missiles to Russia, saying it would invoke a “severe” US response and would counter efforts by Tehran to improve relations.
The United States has been in touch with European allies on reports that Iran is “planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
“We are prepared to deliver a swift and severe response if Iran were to move forward with the transfer of ballistic missiles, which would, in our view, represent a dramatic escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran put its long-range Mohajer-10 drones on show at a defense exhibit in Russia, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported on Monday. US officials have accused Iran of sending drones to Russia – including Mohajer-10’s predecessor, the Mohajer-6 – that Moscow had used in its invasion of Ukraine. Tehran denies this.
Reuters, citing two European intelligence sources, reported on Friday that dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system. They added that they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Russia has been turning to countries under international sanctions, including North Korea, for military equipment to support its operations in Ukraine.
The United States has previously imposed sanctions on suppliers of Iranian drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia.
“Iranian officials also continue to deny providing any UAVs to Russia when evidence is plain for the world to see that Russia has used these UAVs in relentless attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine, against civilian infrastructure,” Patel said.
He noted that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a reformist within the clerical state, had campaigned with hopes of improving relations with the United States and European countries.
“This duplicity is only the latest reminder to the international community that the Iranian regime lacks in credibility,” he said.
IRNA said the more advanced system was on display at the Army 2024 International Military-Technical Forum, an event which runs from Monday to Wednesday in Patriot Park outside Russia’s capital.
The report comes as the Middle East braces for Iran’s threatened retaliation against Israel after the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Iran released details of the Mohajer-10 system in August last year, saying it had an enhanced flight range, duration and could carry a greater payload.
A video accompanying that report showed the drone alongside other military hardware, with text saying “prepare your shelters” in both Hebrew and Persian.
According to Iranian media reports, the drone has an operational range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and can fly for up to 24 hours. Its payload can reach 300 kg (661 pounds), double the capacity of the Mohajer-6, the reports have added.
@Al-Arabiya News
