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Senior Russian and Iranian officials began secret talks to send drones days after the US and Israeli attacks on Tehran, according to two officials familiar with the matter.
The process of sending the drones reportedly began in early March and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
FT Exclusive: Moscow has close ties with Tehran and has provided its ally with crucial support including satellite imagery, targeting data and intelligence support, people familiar with the matter said. https://t.co/SzQAlkm2QL pic.twitter.com/Yx7ofM9f6x
— Financial Times (@FT) March 25, 2026
Sources familiar with the contacts say Russia maintains close cooperation with Iran and has already provided significant support, including satellite imagery, targeting data and intelligence. If confirmed, the drone shipment would be the first indication that Moscow is directly supplying military equipment to Tehran since the start of the conflict.
Kremlin speaks of "fake information"
Asked about the information regarding the deployment of drones, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "a lot of false information is circulating," but noted that Russia's dialogue with the Iranian leadership was continuing.
A Western official assessed that Russian support was aimed not only at strengthening Iran's military capabilities, but also at preserving the political stability of the regime in Tehran.
In public statements, Moscow has emphasized that it provides humanitarian aid, stating that it has already sent more than 13 tons of medical supplies to Iran via Azerbaijan and that it plans to continue deliveries.
The role of drones in Iran's strategy
Iran has made the use of single-engine attack drones a key element of its military strategy in the Middle East. Since the start of the conflict, it has fielded more than 3,000 of the unmanned aircraft, which it can produce cheaply.
Russia has been building single-engine drones based on Iranian models for use in Ukraine since 2023, with modifications that allow them to evade anti-aircraft systems and carry heavier payloads.
Antonio Giustozzi, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that Tehran is primarily seeking access to more advanced technology. "They don't need more drones. They need better drones. They are looking for more advanced capabilities," he said.
According to him, sources within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that talks with Russia about sending drones began immediately after the US and Israeli attacks.
Possible models and geopolitical implications
A Western security official said it was not clear what type of drone Russia might send to Iran. He said Moscow could send models such as the Geran-2, which is based on the Iranian Shahed-136.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Israel last week reportedly targeted a key military equipment route between Russia and Iran in the Caspian Sea.
Nicole Grayevsky, a professor at Sciences Po in Paris and an expert on Russia-Iran relations, said Tehran may seek to reengineer Russian drones to improve internal systems.
She said Russian technology could increase the effectiveness of Iranian drone attacks, especially if Iran does not have time to integrate new capabilities into domestic production.
She stressed that Russian upgrades to Shahed-type drones include modifications to engines, navigation systems, and anti-jamming capabilities, making them more advanced than their previously Iranian-produced counterparts.
Requirements for anti-aircraft systems
Tehran has also asked Moscow for more advanced air defense systems. Last December, a deal was reached to supply 500 Verba portable launchers and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
However, according to current and former Western officials, Russia has rejected Iranian demands for the S-400 system, one of Moscow's most advanced air defense systems.
The Kremlin reportedly believes that such a move could lead to an escalation of tensions with the United States, while the use of the S-400 requires extensive training, which could lead to the direct involvement of Russian crews in combat conditions.
Russia and Iran signed a strategic cooperation agreement last year, which, however, does not explicitly provide for mutual military assistance.
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