US sanctions firms it says produce Iranian drones for shipment to Russia

Washington accuses Iran of supplying drones to Moscow to be used in its war in Ukraine

This handout photo made available by the Iranian Army press office shows military personnel inspecting drones during an exercise at an undisclosed location in Iran. AFP

The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on an Iranian company it accused of co-ordinating military flights to transport drones to Russia as well as three companies it said were involved in the production of the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Washington has accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine — something Tehran has denied.

The Treasury Department in a statement said it had designated Safiran Airport Services, accusing it of co-ordinating Russian military flights between Iran and Russia that transported drones, personnel and related equipment.

It also designated Paravar Pars Company, Design and Manufacturing of Aircraft Engines and Baharestan Kish Company, accusing them of being involved in the research, development, production and procurement of Iranian drones.

The department singled out Paravar Pars Company for involvement in the reverse engineering of US and Israeli-made drones, without specifying which models.

Reuters reported that some of Iran's drones are based on those made in other countries, including an aerial US RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone captured in 2011.

Also designated was Baharestan Kish Company’s managing director and a member of its board of directors, Rehmatollah Heidari.

Last month, a US official told Reuters that Russia's Iranian-made drones had suffered “numerous failures”.

“We assess that Russia intends to use these Iranian UAVs, which can conduct air-to-surface attacks, electronic warfare, and targeting, on the battlefield in Ukraine,” the official said.

Russia has probably planned to acquire hundreds of Mohajer-6 and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles, the US official said.

Iran continues drone exercises - in pictures

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  A drone is launched during a military drill in Iran. AP

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  Taking off from a warship. AP

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  An explosion after a strike by a military drone during drills at an undisclosed location in Iran. AFP

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  Iran is carrying out large-scale drone drills across the country, to show off the country's military strength, reports say. AFP

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  Troops on a submarine take part in the exercise. AFP

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  At least 150 drones are to be used in the drills, Iranian state media reports. Reuters

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  It is the first time that a joint drone exercise has been conducted at the level of the four forces of the Islamic Republic's army, authorities say. AFP

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  Iran's Army Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi looks on during the military exercises. Reuters

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  Iran started developing drones in the 1980s during its eight-year war with Iraq. AP

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  Its army unveiled its first division of ships and submarines capable of carrying armed drones in July. AFP