The Biden administration has begun pushing to block Iran’s ability to produce and supply drones to Russia, an effort reminiscent of the Tehran government’s long-standing program to block access to nuclear technology, the New York Times reported, Rador reported.

In interviews in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, a number of intelligence, military and national security officials spoke of a broad US program aimed at denying Iran the ability to produce drones, to thwart Russia’s efforts to launch kamikaze drones and, if all other plans fail to provide Ukraine with the necessary defenses to bring them down.

“Made in America” ​​components in the designs of Iranian drones that wreak havoc on Ukraine

These efforts have become more apparent in recent weeks. The administration stepped up its efforts to strip Iran of Western-made components needed to make drones sold to Russia after an examination of the wreckage found the intercepted drones were full of “made in America” ​​equipment.

U.S. forces are helping the Ukrainian military scout out sites where drones are being prepared for launch — a goal that’s difficult to achieve, given that the Russians circle everything from soccer fields to parking lots. And the Americans are in a hurry to provide new technologies to signal the approach of drones in advance, thus increasing the chances of Ukraine to shoot them down by any means, from a simple shot to missiles.

But all those options have faced major hurdles, and efforts to strip the drones of key parts have already proven difficult after decades of trying to strip Iran of the components needed to build the delicate centrifuges the country uses to enrich uranium to levels. which it could be used in the manufacture of bombs. In recent weeks, U.S. intelligence officials have said the Iranians are using drones to learn how to spread centrifuge production across the country and find “dual-use” technology on the black market to circumvent export controls.

In fact, one of the Iranian companies considered by Britain, France and Germany to be a key manufacturer of one of the two types of drones bought by the Russians, Qods Aviation, was on the UN list of suppliers for the nuclear program and Iran. rockets The company, which is owned by the Iranian military, has expanded its line of drones despite the wave of sanctions.

The administration’s efforts to address Iranian-supplied drones come at a critical time in the war, as Ukraine has used its own drones to attack Russian territory, including this week’s attack on a base that housed key Russian strategic bombers. At the same time, officials in Washington and London warn that Iran may also supply Russia with missiles, helping Moscow cover its acute shortages on the ground.

Western alliance officials say they believe Iran and Russia, both isolated by US sanctions and the like, are forming a new alliance of good understanding. A senior official said the partnership quickly diversified after Iran’s deal last summer to supply drones to the Russians “got Putin out of trouble.”

Having given up hope of renewing the 2015 nuclear deal with the government in Tehran, the Biden administration has imposed new sanctions every few weeks.

Consultations with Israel

Wanting to block the drone attacks, Biden’s advisers entered into negotiations with an ally that has extensive experience in undermining Iran’s nuclear program, namely Israel.

During a video conference last Thursday with senior Israeli security, military and intelligence officials, National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan “discussed Iran’s growing military ties to Russia, including the transfer of weapons used by the Kremlin against Ukraine and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, as well as technology provided Iran in exchange for Russia,” said the conclusion of the meeting in the White House. The statement also did not contain details about how the two countries would resolve this issue.

But it’s worth noting that the administration chose to raise the debate during its quarterly meeting, usually focusing on issues aimed at damaging Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Israel and the United States have long cooperated on technological threats posed by Iran. Together, the two countries pulled off one of the most notorious and sophisticated cyberattacks, using computer code later named “Stuxnet” to attack Iran’s nuclear centrifuges.

Since then, Israel has made no secret of its attempts to sabotage uranium enrichment facilities.

Even less than a month ago, representatives of the US and UK governments stated that most of the drones were in Crimea. Then, after a few days, they disappeared, reappearing in the areas of Zaporozhye occupied by the Russians. These steps were watched by American and Ukrainian officials, some sitting side by side in military intelligence centers. But the drones are very mobile, their launchers are placed in trucks, otherwise the Russians know they are being hunted, so they move them to safer locations, making them harder to detect and attack. It is reported that the change of launch sites is related to Russia’s fears about the vulnerability of Crimea.

There is growing evidence that military-to-military relations can be mutually beneficial. Britain has accused Russia of plans to transfer modern military equipment to Iran in exchange for several hundred drones.

“Iran has become one of Russia’s main military sponsors,” British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told parliament last week.

Drone detection training

Several U.S. companies, including Edgesource Corporation and BlueHalo, both of Virginia, have provided training and technology to detect and defend against Russian drones, U.S. officials said.

Edgesource donated approx. According to the company’s chief operating officer, Joseph Urbaniak, $2 million through these systems, including a system called Windtalkers, to help Ukraine find, identify and track enemy drones at a distance of more than 50 km, as well as identify Ukrainian drones in the same airspace.

According to a Dec. 9 Pentagon announcement, the United States has provided Ukraine with other anti-drone technology, most recently as part of a major $275 million weapons program. But U.S. officials declined to provide details or specify the type of aid, citing concerns about the security of the operation.