Russia is reportedly completing a shipment of drones, medicine, and food to Iran, signaling a potential escalation in support for Tehran following recent US and Israeli strikes.
According to the Financial Times (FT), Russian and Iranian officials began secretly discussing drone deliveries days after US attacks on Tehran, with shipments already underway in early March and expected to be finalized by the end of the month.
If confirmed, the transfer of drones would mark the first known instance of Moscow providing lethal military support to Iran since the start of the conflict.
Western intelligence sources cited by the FT suggest Russia is aiming not only to bolster Iran’s battlefield capabilities but also to help stabilize the regime politically amid mounting pressure.
Publicly, Moscow says it is providing humanitarian support to Tehran, noting that more than 13 tonnes of medicine have already been delivered via Azerbaijan, with further shipments planned.
Privately, however, Russia has reportedly provided Tehran with satellite imagery, targeting data, and intelligence support, according to FT sources familiar with the matter.
Iran has relied on one-way attack drones as a core part of its military strategy, launching over 3,000 drones since the outbreak of fighting.
Russia, in turn, has used modified Iranian-designed drones in Ukraine since 2023, enhancing them with improved navigation, payload capacity, and resistance to electronic warfare.
Analysts say Tehran is now seeking access to these upgraded systems.
“They don’t need more drones. They need better drones,” said Antonio Giustozzi, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Giustozzi added that Iran is likely interested in more advanced capabilities developed by Russia.
Sources cited by the FT said Moscow may supply variants such as the Geran-2 drone, which is based on Iran’s Shahed-136 but incorporates significant upgrades.
Nicole Grajewski, a professor at Sciences Po University in Paris who studies the Russia-Iran relationship, said Iran could use the systems to enhance its own domestic drone production or deploy them directly to improve strike effectiveness.
“The Russians dramatically improved the Shaheds… these systems are already more advanced than the ones Iran was producing domestically,” she said.
At the same time, Iran has reportedly requested more advanced air defense systems from Russia, including the S-400. However, Western officials say Moscow has so far refused, likely to avoid further escalation with the US.
The two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement last year, though it stops short of a mutual defense pact.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports of drone deliveries while confirming ongoing dialogue with Tehran.
“There are a lot of fakes going around right now,” Peskov said.
The reported shipments come amid Israeli strikes targeting supply routes between Russia and Iran in the Caspian Sea.
Israeli strikes on March 18-19 reportedly hit Iran’s naval base and port at Bandar Anzali, damaging Tehran’s Northern Fleet, destroying vessels, and striking a command center and repair yard.
Moscow likely views the attack as directly affecting its own strategic interests in the Caspian.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the port as a key logistics hub, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any escalation in the Caspian could pose “unacceptable risks” and even trigger “catastrophic environmental consequences.”
Analyst Paul Goble told Kyiv Post that the strike sent a clear message that there are “no safe havens” in Iran, and Israel – implicitly backed by the US – is closely monitoring Russia-Iran links across the Caspian, including suspected transfers of sanctioned goods and military equipment.
The Caspian corridor has become a key artery connecting Russia and Iran, used to move everything from oil to drone components while bypassing Western monitoring.