Iran launches two-day drills to test drones

This week, Iran launched its two-day exercises as an effort to test its combat and reconnaissance drones. The tests come amidst concerns by the United States that Iran may be supplying Russia with unmanned drones for use in its war on Ukraine.

Iranian state media reported Wednesday that Tehran kicked off its two-day exercises in testing its drones. The drills will involve 150 drones and cover Iran’s Gulf Coast and most of its territory. Iran’s air defenses and “electronic warfare” will also be tested against mock enemy drones.

The drone tests come amidst concerns by Washington that Iran was supplying unmanned drones to Moscow.

Earlier this month, the US said Russian officials were being trained in Iran as part of an agreement on the transfer of drones between the two countries, accusing Iran of planning to supply such drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Iran’s foreign minister denied the claim last month, including in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart.

Iran’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that it has received the US response to the final text proposed by the European Union on the nuclear agreement that would revive the 2015 deal between Iran and major world powers.

This follows 16 months of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell saying early this month that the bloc proposed a final text and expected a response in the coming weeks.

“This evening Iran received the US response through the European Union. The careful review of this response has started in Tehran,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani. “Iran will share its view with the EU as the coordinator of the nuclear talks, upon completion of Tehran’s review.”

Amidst tests, two officials with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the US military and Iran-backed fighters exchanged fire in Syria Wednesday. The officials said the incident left a number of pro-Iran fighters killed, but no US casualties were reported.

The latest incident appeared to be done in retaliation for US President Joe Biden’s military strikes in Syria at facilities the Pentagon said were used by Iran-aligned groups that target the US and US-aligned coalition personnel in Syria.