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Iranians In Crimea 'Directly Engaged' In Helping Russia Use Drones To Attack Ukraine, White House Says

October 20, 2022

Iranian personnel are "directly engaged on the ground" in Russian-occupied Crimea helping Moscow's forces conduct attacks on Ukraine with Iranian-made drones, the White House said on October 20.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Iran has sent a "relatively small number" of Iranians to Crimea to work as trainers and in tech support, while Russians are piloting the drones.

"Tehran is now directly engaged on the ground, and through the provision of weapons that are impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine," he said.

"The United States is going to pursue all means to expose, deter, and confront Iran's provision of these munitions against the Ukrainian people."

He said the United States would also continue to "vigorously enforce all U.S. sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arms trade."

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran in July, and the U.S. said then that Russia was looking to purchase Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles to use in its war against Ukraine. Iran has denied selling its munitions to Russia.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-crimea-drones-helping- russia/32093588.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.