Iran displays long-range drones at defense forum in Russia
Mohajer-10 drones have range of 2,000 km, can fly for up to 24 hours; US expresses concern over report Tehran plans to send ballistic missiles to Russia
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran put its long-range Mohajer-10 drones on show at a defense exhibit in Russia, Iran’s official news agency reported on Monday.
US officials have accused Iran of sending drones to Russia — including Mohajer-10’s predecessor, the Mohajer-6 — that Moscow used in its invasion of Ukraine. Tehran denies it.
IRNA said the more advanced system was on display at the Army 2024 International Military-Technical Forum, an event that runs from Monday to Wednesday in Patriot Park, outside Russia’s capital.
The report comes as the Middle East braces for Iran’s threatened retaliation against Israel after the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the assassination.
Iran released details of the Mohajer-10 system in August last year, saying it had an enhanced flight range, and duration and could carry a greater payload.
A video accompanying that report showed the drone alongside other military hardware, with text saying “prepare your shelters” in both Hebrew and Persian.
According to Iranian media reports, the drone has an operational range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and can fly for up to 24 hours. Its payload can reach 300 kilograms (661 pounds), double the capacity of the Mohajer-6, the reports have added.
Meanwhile, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Monday the United States is deeply concerned by reports that Iran is planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, adding that such a move would represent a dramatic escalation.
Reuters reported on Friday that dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, according to two European intelligence sources. They added that they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
UN Security Council restrictions on Iran’s export of some missiles, drones, and other technologies expired in October 2023. However, the US and European Union retained sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program amid concerns over exports of weapons to its proxies in the Middle East and to Russia.
Reuters reported in February on deepening military cooperation between Iran and Russia and on Moscow’s interest in Iranian surface-to-surface missiles.
Sources told the news agency at the time that around 400 Fateh-110 longer-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles had been delivered. But the European intelligence sources told Reuters that according to their information, no transfer had happened yet.
Ukrainian authorities have not publicly reported finding any Iranian missile remnants or debris during the war. Authorities in Kyiv did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
