The United States affirms that Russia and Iran are moving towards a full-fledged defense partnership.

According to a White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Iranian authorities are specifically considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.

This is against the background of Iran’s supply of weapons to wage war in Ukraine, in particular the drones that attack Ukrainian critical infrastructure.

The Biden administration accuses Russia of providing advanced military equipment to Iran, including air defense systems, helicopters and fighter jets, part of deepening cooperation between the two countries.

Russia and Iran can create a joint venture for the production of drones in Russia.

Also, according to the United States, Russia trains Iranian pilots on a Su-35 fighter. It is speculated that Iran may receive these warplanes within the next (2023) year.

Such cooperation between Russia and Iran in the defense sphere harms not only Ukraine, but also the entire international community and especially Iran’s neighbors.

NBC News states that after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February this year, Iran has become the main military ally of the Russian Federation. It has sold several hundred kamikaze drones to Moscow since August alone.

Russian occupation forces applied these drones to attack Ukraine’s energy and critical infrastructure during strikes that killed civilians.

In November, The Washington Post, citing U.S. intelligence data, reported that Moscow had agreed with Tehran to produce Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles in the Russian Federation.

Subsequently, closely monitoring Iran’s weapons program, CNN reported with reference to its own sources in the intelligence that Russia and Iran had reached an agreement on the manufacture of kamikaze drones on the territory of the Russian Federation and begun the process of transferring drawings and components.

Besides, in the war with Ukraine the Russian military uses Iranian body armor and protective helmets, which are used to equip mobilized Russians.