SNA (Birmingham) — US economic sanctions on Russia and Iran have pushed the two countries closer by supplying them with a common need for security policy cooperation as well as trading opportunities outside of Western markets. The two nations are looking for new opportunities to work together, and one result is an Iranian military drone factory being built inside Russia.

Russian authorities confirmed plans for this drone factory at the beginning of the year, following Iran President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to the town of Yelabuga, which is about 900 kilometers east of Moscow and where the factory is now under construction.

As Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained last year: “We are interested in expanding our partnership with Iran, our friends and partners, into all areas, including bilateral affairs, the Caspian Sea region, and other regional matters.”

The drone factory project is part of a US$1 billion deal between Moscow and Tehran in which Iran has promised to produce at least 6,000 HESA Shahed-136 drones for use against Ukraine.

These drones have been used in Ukraine since early in the conflict,  becoming the first model of unmanned self-destructing drones to be employed on an active battlefield. According to a report by the Royal United Services Institute, Shahed-136 drones “were used extensively to hit nodal points in Ukraine’s electricity grid and other critical infrastructure in major cities.”

In response to Tehran’s decision to provide these drones to the Russian military, the United States imposed sanctions on two Iranian manufacturers, Shahed Aviation Industries and Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (HESA).

Similarly, the United States also sanctioned eight executives of the Paravar Pars Company, which is known to be manufacturing a related model of “kamikaze” drones for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on his government’s sanctions policy as follows: “The United States will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and delay these transfers and impose costs on actors engaged in this activity.”

In turn, Lavrov responded: “The mechanism of illegitimate unilateral sanctions is a tool for an unacceptable policy. In our relations with Iran and other close partners, we denounce this unacceptable approach to international affairs.”

Amidst the US sanctions placed on both countries, Lavrov made it clear that Russia and Iran’s trade links are being enhanced. Speaking last August, he stated that “bilateral trade is growing at a record pace in spite of the illegitimate sanctions. In the first seven months of 2022, trade soared by over 40% to reach about US$2.7 billion.”

Russia President Vladimir Putin also signaled the importance which he places on relations with Iran by making Tehran the very first place he visited outside of former Soviet nations following the invasion of Ukraine. During Putin’s visit last July he met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures.

Since then, diplomatic announcements make clear that bilateral communication has been frequent between the two capitals, including dozens of phone conversations among top officials.

Beyond the issue of Ukraine, the two nations have shared objectives in Syria; namely, they both offer critical support to the regime of Bashar al-Asad in Damascus, hoping to end the civil war in the central government’s favor.

This week there is even a plan for a four-party meeting in Moscow between diplomats representing Russia, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. The aim is to encourage political reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara for the purpose of bringing the years of fighting in northern Syria to a close.

If successful, this would mark a significant diplomatic accomplishment for the Russia-Iran alignment.

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