US Ramps Up Pressure on Iran to Halt Sale of Deadly Drones to Russia Amidst Conflict in Ukraine

The United States is ramping up pressure on Iran to halt the sale of armed drones to Russia, which Moscow is allegedly using in the conflict in Ukraine, according to reports. The discussions to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran include a broader unwritten understanding, as reported by the Financial Times.

The US is calling for Iran to cease providing Russia with both armed drones and spare parts for unmanned aircraft. The White House and Iran's foreign ministry have yet to comment on the matter. These talks coincide with negotiations for a potential prisoner exchange deal, which may see the release of five detained US citizens in return for the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds held in South Korea.

Washington and Iran are also seeking to revive broader discussions on Iran's nuclear program, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing his openness to Iranian steps to de-escalate nuclear tensions. Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones have proven highly effective in Russia's attacks on Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky reporting nearly 2,000 such drones deployed by Russia.

The drones are difficult for Ukrainian forces to shoot down due to their volume, varying launch directions, and low flight altitude. The UK Defense Ministry recently announced that Russia is expected to deploy drones based on Iranian designs, enabling a more stable supply for airstrikes against Ukraine.

Amidst these talks, Iran has reportedly requested multiple times for Russia to halt the drone use, but the US is seeking concrete actions through intermediaries. The US is pressuring Iran to halt the drone sales as part of wider efforts to ease tensions and reopen negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal.

Tehran's compliance with these requests and the progress made in de-escalating tensions will be closely monitored by the international community.