White House: Indicators of Expanding Defensive Partnership between Russia and Iran

The White House announced on Monday that the United States still sees indicators of an unprecedented expansion of the defensive partnership between Russia and Iran, which will help Moscow prolong its war in Ukraine and pose a threat to Tehran's neighbors. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated in a press briefing that "Iran is supplying Russia with suicide attack drones, with more than 400 drones since August, as part of their ongoing cooperation." He continued: "This concerns a growing defensive relationship that allows Russia to kill more people in Ukraine and also enables Iran to stockpile military equipment and pose a greater threat to its neighbors." He added that "drones are the primary military assistance that Iran provides to Russia, which is seeking more advanced types."