Iranian killer drones mock Ukraine – that’s why Iran is helping Russia

Iranian-made drones have already been used in Ukraine. This time, the attacks were in the city of Makariv, west of Kiev. Important infrastructure has been affected. It’s all the result of cooperation with Iran, says Middle East correspondent Olaf Koens. “From the third day of the war, the possibility of the country supplying weapons to the Russians had already been considered.”

Iran, like Russia, is also fighting a battle with the West, he explains. “If you have a common enemy, on paper you are friends with each other. And Iran is always looking for money because of all the sanctions imposed on them. And the Russians can give it to them.”

But what about the relationship between Russia and Iran? They certainly don’t have a very close relationship, explains Iranian expert Paul Aarts of the University of Amsterdam. Because Iran is always a very isolated country. “The feeling is: we want to be sovereign. Iran and Russia have had a difficult and rather ambiguous relationship for a long time.”

This has to do with past events, where trust between Iran and other countries has often been damaged. For example, both the Russians and the British occupied parts of Iran at the beginning of the last century and during the Second World War. They also killed the constitutional revolution in the early 20th century. “People haven’t forgotten that in Iran,” Aarts says.

Highly developed country

There is no doubt that Iran has drones at its disposal. The country has been under pressure for years due to international sanctions imposed to counter the development of nuclear weapons. “The sanctions have been in place since 1979, but the most severe sanctions have been imposed since 2012. The sanctions were added four years ago under President Trump, but Biden continues to do so.”

Iran tries to depend on others as little as possible despite all the setbacks. They therefore – by necessity – created their own arms industry. “They have gained leadership in some areas. People sometimes forget, but Iran is a highly developed country with highly developed technology,” Aarts says.

Sanctions hit some harder than others. “First, it is the Iranian municipalities that pay the price. Some sectors work like a charm. But the production of missiles and drones is high, qualitative and quantitative.”

Correspondent Olaf Koens also says there is fear of Iranian drones in Israel. “At first it was thought that those drones were not good enough, that Iran was just fumbling. But now it turns out that they work quite well. It is not the case that huge bombs can be carried with them, but they can. Touch what. . “

marriage of convenience

In early July, US intelligence agencies reported that Iran was supplying Russia with hundreds of armed drones. According to the United States, the Iranian military would also train Russians on how to use drones. Iran has denied it.

But now these drones are used in Ukraine, as it turned out earlier from the videos shared by the Ukrainian army. “This goes much further than I thought possible,” says Iranian expert Aarts. “But it’s a more common element of Iranian foreign policy that they sometimes enter into a marriage of convenience with another country for pragmatic reasons. And so turn a blind eye if it’s in Iran’s interest.”

Aarts wonders why Iran needs to do this. “Putin has undoubtedly exerted pressure and money always plays a role. Iran has been burdened with sanctions for years. The country is not bankrupt, but it is in serious trouble. Support when Iran needs it, for example in the Council. of UN security. Or in the economic field “.

“But it is difficult to understand what exactly is going on in the minds of Iranian leaders,” says Aarts. “And then what’s the final consideration in delivering this deadly device, because that’s what it is, to Russia.”

Who are the friends of Russia?

Putin does not have many allies in the world. Yesterday the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of four territories in Ukraine. Such areas are therefore not recognized as Russian.

143 of the 193 countries voted in favor of the resolution, which reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty. Five votes against: Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria. 35 countries, including India and China, have said they will abstain from voting. In all, ten countries, including Iran, were not present to vote.

Last month there was a summit in Uzbekistan, where Russia and Iran have tightened ties, according to the Reuters news agency. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the countries affected by the sanctions are looking for each other, “only making them stronger”. “The Americans think they can stop countries with sanctions, but they are wrong,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sees rapprochement as “a positive development”. The two countries will work on a new strategic treaty to further develop cooperation, including in the economic field.