Iran’s support for proxies in the Middle East have not slowed down despite escalating weapons transfers to Russia in recent months, defense officials said Monday.
Iran has smuggled hundreds of drones into Russia to use in its war against Ukraine, targeting both Ukrainian military positions and civil energy infrastructure in an attempt to weaken the entire country, CNN reported. At the same time, Tehran’s ongoing transfers of weapons and other goods to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who fought against the recognized government and a global coalition of forces that are adhering to an unofficial truce, have not abated and continue to threaten the region, Department of Defense (DOD) officials said at a press call Monday.
“We have seen no change in Iranian willingness or activity to transfer weapons to Houthis despite their increasing military cooperation with Russia for the war in Ukraine,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East Dana Stroul said.
Iran has evaded international sanctions against Russia, supplying Moscow with simple Shahed-line drones that explode on impact and larger Mojaher-6 drones capable of dropping bombs on Ukrainian positions and returning to base intact, The Guardian reported.
Russia also reportedly sought to import ballistic missiles from Iran in exchange for other forms of military support, NBC News reported, but so far no evidence has emerged that such transfers took place.
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