Iran says it gave drones to Russia before Ukraine invasion

Tehran sent 'small' number of drones to Moscow but no missiles, foreign minister claims

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran supplied Russia with drones before Moscow launched an offensive on Ukraine. AFP

Iran says it gave drones to Russia in the months before Moscow invaded Ukraine, backtracking on previous claims it never supplied weapons to Russia.

Tehran provided a "small number of drones" to Russia in the months before the war, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in comments published by state-affiliated outlets. Iran had previously refuted growing evidence it had sent drones and other weapons to Moscow.

Mr Amirabdollahian denied that Iran had also sent missiles to Moscow and said Tehran will "react" if it is proven Iranian drones have been used by Russia in Ukraine.

An army spokesperson later claimed that Iran is "not involved" in the war.

Ukraine and its western allies say Tehran sent drones to support Russia's offensive. The EU and US have stepped up sanctions on Iran over its material support for Moscow.

Foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko warned Iran following Moscow's admission.

"Tehran should realise that the consequences of complicity in the crimes of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine will be much greater than the benefit of Russia's support," he wrote on Facebook.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently vowed to take down Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones, which have been deployed in multiple offensives on Ukraine, including on strikes in the centre of Kyiv.

Speaking next to a downed Shahed drone, Mr Zelenskyy promised to "clip the wings" of Moscow's air power.

Ukraine's air force said it has downed more than 300 Iranian drones, while the US said Tehran has sent drone trainers to occupied areas of Ukraine.

On Friday, Nato said Tehran could send ballistic missiles to Russia to be used in the conflict.

Iran is preparing to send another 1,000 drones and missiles to Moscow, military experts told The National earlier this week.

The shipment is being closely monitored by the West as it marks the first surface-to-surface missiles to be sent by Iran, they said.

Iran displays drones at secret underground base — in pictures

Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, left, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, and Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi, Army Commander-in-Chief, visit an underground drone base at an undisclosed location in Iran. AFP

Iranian state media revealed the existence of a drone base, said to be in the Zagros Mountains, in reports on a visit to the facility by Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, left, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff. Reuters

The Iranian Army released photos of a wide variety of drones lined up in long tunnels. AFP

Iranian Army drones believed to be held at an underground facility in the Zagros Mountains, a range that runs 1,600 kilometres through Iran, Iraq and Turkey. AFP

An army drone at an underground drone base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground drone base somewhere in Iran. Senior officers in the Iranian military say its drone force gives it regional leadership. AFP

An Iranian military drone is inspected at a secret underground site. Reuters

Iran's unmanned aircraft programme has come up with dozens of kinds of drones since the middle of the 1980s. AFP

Reminders of the Iranian Army's revolutionary heritage are seen at an underground facility when drones are stored. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

Iran's missile development has come along in tandem with programmes to developed military drones. AFP

Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri and Army Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi. AFP

Photos from an underground Iranian military base show development of several drone platforms. AFP

A heavy payload for a drone at a secret underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

Iran introduced the IAIO Fotros surveillance drone late in 2013. AFP

Iran's developing missile technology has been used by Tehran's allies around the Middle East. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. Reuters

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. Reuters