According to The Economist, newly leaked intelligence documents from the Kremlin show that Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) proposed supplying Iran with 5,000 advanced fiber-optic drones that are nearly impossible to jam.
Kabul 24: The offer, likely made during the first six weeks of direct Iran-US conflict, represents the strongest evidence yet of Moscow’s willingness to provide substantial military support to Tehran against the United States.
The documents indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin not only approved the drone transfer but also offered to train Iranian forces on how to operate the systems.
The confidential GRU plan included delivering 5,000 short-range fiber-optic drones along with an unspecified number of longer-range satellite-guided systems.This revelation adds to previous reports of deepening Russia-Iran military cooperation.
In late March, the Financial Times cited Western intelligence sources claiming Russia was nearing completion of the first phase of shipments to Iran, including drones, medicine, and food supplies.
At the time, officials believed Moscow intended to send upgraded “Geran-2” drones, an enhanced version of Iran’s own Shahed-136.Fiber-optic drones have dramatically changed the battlefield in Ukraine since 2024.
Unlike conventional drones that rely on radio signals and are vulnerable to electronic warfare, these systems are guided through thin fiber-optic cables unspooled behind them during flight. This technology makes jamming by electronic systems almost impossible, allowing precise strikes on targets more than 40 kilometers away.
They also enable rapid detection of enemy movements across wide areas.Had the deal gone through, Iranian forces could have used these drones for highly accurate attacks on American positions in the Persian Gulf, where electronic jamming is frequently employed.
The leaked documents highlight the growing military partnership between Moscow and Tehran. Russia has increasingly turned to Iran for drones and missiles in its war against Ukraine, while Iran seeks advanced Russian technology to bolster its defenses.
Experts view this proposed transfer as part of a broader strategic alignment between the two nations against Western influence.
The disclosure comes at a sensitive time, with a fragile ceasefire reportedly in place between Iran and the United States. It raises serious concerns in Western capitals about the expanding axis of cooperation among Russia, Iran, and their allies, and its potential impact on future regional stability and global security.
