Russia, Iran deepening military partnership – State Department

Iran remains Russia's top military backer in its war against the Ukrainian people, and the military partnership between the two countries is only deepening.

U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said this at a briefing in Washington on Tuesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Iran remains Russia's top military backer," he said, commenting on reports from U.S. intelligence that Russia is building a drone manufacturing facility with Iran's assistance.

"Russia received hundreds of one-way attack UAVs, as well as UAV production related equipment from Iran," Patel said.

In this context, he recalled that Russian forces had been using Iranian drones to strike Kyiv to terrorize the Ukrainian population.

"This military partnership between Russia and Iran continues to be deepening," Patel said.