Wed 16 August 2023:
The US is pushing Iran to stop selling armed drones to Russia as part of discussions on a broader unwritten understanding between Washington and Tehran to de-escalate tensions, the Financial Times reports today, citing people briefed on the matter.
The US is pressing Iran to stop selling armed drones to Russia, which Moscow is using in the war in Ukraine, as well as spare parts for the unmanned aircraft, the report said, citing an Iranian official and another person familiar with the talks.
The White House and Iran’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The news comes as Washington and Iran are trying to ease tensions and revive broader talks over Iran’s nuclear program. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that he would welcome any Iranian steps to de-escalate its “growing nuclear threat.”
These discussions have taken place alongside the negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal last week, the newspaper said. Iran allowed four detained U.S. citizens to move into house arrest from Tehran’s Evin prison while a fifth was already under home confinement.
Last week, sources told Reuters that Iran may free five detained U.S. citizens as part of a deal to unfreeze $6bn in Iranian funds in South Korea.
The news comes as Washington and Iran are trying to ease tensions and revive broader talks over Iran’s nuclear programme. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that he would welcome any Iranian steps to de-escalate its “growing nuclear threat”.
Russia begins deploying self-made UAVs: British MoD
The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) says Russia has started to deploy one-way Unmaned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) based on the Iranian Shahed drones it has used throughout the conflict.
In its daily intelligence update, the ministry wrote, “Indigenous manufacturing will likely allow Russia to establish a more reliable supply of OWA-UAVs. The performance of these weapons has been variable and Ukraine has proved effective in neutralising the majority of incoming OWA-UAVs.”
“Russia likely aims for self-sufficiency in OWA-UAVs in the coming months. However, in the interim, Russia remains reliant on components and whole weapons from Iran, primarily shipped via the Caspian Sea.”
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 16 August 2023
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/hNVy8TbN6C
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/uFFV62DJZ5
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) August 16, 2023
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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