Russia delivering drones to Iran in bid to bolster its capabilities — report

26 March 2026, 4:24 am

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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov walk together after their meeting to give a joint press conference at the foreign ministry headquarters in Tehran, Iran, on February 25, 2025. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Russia began delivering drones to Iran this month and is set to complete the phased shipment of the equipment by the end of the month, the Financial Times reports, citing Western intelligence assessments.

Russia is also reportedly sending food and medicine to Iran.

The Kremlin has already provided intelligence support and satellite imagery to its ally, the report said, but the drones are the first weapons shipment from Moscow to Tehran during this war, which began on February 28.

A Kremlin spokesperson said in response to the report that ““There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true — we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership,” according to FT.

Russia has been manufacturing Iranian-designed drones for its war in Ukraine since 2023, the report said. The shipment from Russia to Iran is reportedly meant to bolster Tehran’s military capabilities and stabilize its regime.

Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian targets at the Caspian Sea reportedly were meant to disrupt transfers between Russia and Iran.