White House: Iran Helping Russia Build Drone Plant

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Facts

  • On Friday, the US White House alleged that Iran is helping Russia build a drone manufacturing plant by providing Moscow with materials in an intelligence report that claims “deepening” military ties between the two countries.1
  • National Security Council official John Kirby said the alleged drone plant could be fully operational by early 2024, claiming that Iran is moving drones, bullets, and mortar shells to Russia via the Caspian Sea using “dark” vessels and turn-off tracking data.2
  • The Biden admin. showed an illustration of a potential transportation path of the alleged drones Iran has shipped to Russia, as Kirby warned that “support is flowing both ways” between the nations that have been sanctioned by the US and EU.3
  • Friday’s report echoes the White House’s December statement speculating that Tehran and Moscow would build a drone assembly to aid in the Ukraine war, with new information claiming the plant is under construction in the Yelabuga region of Tatarstan.4
  • While Iran has acknowledged that it has sent drones to Russia in the past, it denies sending any since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.5

Sources: 1NBC, 2CNN, 3CBS, 4Associated Press and 5Reuters.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Voa. Russia and Iran have been strengthening their military ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the world must be on notice. Iran is providing Russia with drones and materials to build a manufacturing plant that will be devastating for Ukraine and the world. This collaboration shouldn't be taken lightly — the US needs to act swiftly to protect against this unholy alliance.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Tehran times. These baseless accusations are the West's latest attempt to drum up tensions and distract from the prolongation of the conflict in Ukraine. Despite having long-established defense cooperation with Moscow, Tehran is not taking part in any joint project to produce drones in Russia. Rather than spreading propaganda, Washington should encourage peace in the region.
  • Narrative C, as provided by CNBC. While there will always be concerns when two adversaries join forces to create weapons during a time of war, the alleged drone partnership between Iran and Russia is unlikely to help Moscow in its war against Ukraine. In fact, Iran’s commitment to helping Russia could bring it more harm than good, destroying already tenuous relationships and weakening Tehran on the global stage. The West should monitor the situation, but it has no reason to be overly concerned.