Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Iran has provided Russia with loitering munitions for use in the latter's invasion of Ukraine, chiefly the Shahed 131 and Shahed 136. Several countries have accused Iran of violating the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

Contents

Background

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi speaking to the Russian Duma on 20 January 2022 Ebrahim Raisi in the Russian State Duma (2022-01-20) 08.jpg
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi speaking to the Russian Duma on 20 January 2022

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 enacted an arms embargo on Iran in 2015. The embargo on conventional Iranian arms ended in October 2020, but the restrictions on Iran regarding missiles and related technologies are in place until October 2023. [1]

On 20 January 2022, Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran gave a speech to the Russian Duma. In the speech, he condemned NATO, accusing it of "infiltrating various geographical areas with new coverings that threaten the common interests of independent states." and emphasized the relations between Iran and Russia. [2]

Drone deliveries

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. By 12 April, Russia's attempt to take Kyiv had failed. On that date, The Guardian reported that Iran was smuggling weapons from Iraq to Russia. [3] On 11 July, and again on 17 July, with Russian drone supplies running low, US officials said that Iran was planning to provide Russia with drones. [4] [5] By 17 October, with Russia losing ground to Ukrainian counteroffensives in the East and in the South, Russia had obtained Iranian suicide drones, which it used to attack civilian infrastructure. [6] By 18 October, Iranian military officials were in Crimea helping Russia to operate Iranian drones. [7]

Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Raisi in Tehran, 19 July 2022 Meeting between Putin and Khamenei 2.jpeg
Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Raisi in Tehran, 19 July 2022

On 16 October, The Washington Post reported that Iran was planning to supply Russia with both drones and missiles. [8] On 21 November, the Ukrainian defense ministry said that according to reports in the Israeli press, Israel might respond by transferring short-range and medium-range missiles to Ukraine. [9]

On 18 October the U.S. State Department accused Iran of violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 by selling Shahed 131 and Shahed 136 drones to Russia, [10] [11] agreeing with similar assessments by France and the United Kingdom. Iran's ambassador to the UN responded by writing to the UNSC on 19 and 24 October stating that this was an erroneous interpretation of paragraph 4 of annex B of the resolution, which clearly states it applies to items that "could contribute to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems", which these drones could not. [12] [13] Iran denied sending arms for use in the Ukraine war. [14] [15] On 22 October France, Britain and Germany formally called for an investigation by the UN team responsible for UNSCR 2231. [16]

Kyiv after Russian attack with Iranian drones on 17 October 2022 Kyiv after Russian drone attack, 2022-10-17 (54).jpg
Kyiv after Russian attack with Iranian drones on 17 October 2022

On 1 November, CNN reported that Iran was preparing to send ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. [17]

On 21 November, CNN reported that an intelligence assessment had concluded that Iran planned to help Russia begin production of Iran-designed drones in Russia. The country making the intelligence assessment was not named. [18]

Drone attacks

Russia used Iranian drones in an attack on Kyiv on 28 May 2023. Ukraine said it shot down all but one of the drones, but one person was killed. [19] Another strike on 20 June used 35 Shahed drones, 32 of which were shot down by Ukraine. [20]

Ukrainian response

On 3 November 2022, Ukraine warned Iran to expect an "absolutely ruthless" response if it were to continue supplying weapons to Russia. [21] On 24 November, Ukraine announced that Iranian military advisers had been killed in Crimea. It said that Iranians in occupied territory would continue to be targeted. [22]

On 24 May 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the people of Iran to oppose the Iran government, asking them not to be complicit with being on the same side "with such an evil as Russian aggression." [23]

Iranian forces in Ukraine

On 21 October 2022, a White House press release stated that Iranian troops were in Crimea assisting Russia in launching drone attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. [24] On 24 November, Ukrainian officials said the military had killed ten Iranians and would target any further Iranian military presence in Ukraine. [25] The Institute for the Study of War assessed that these are likely Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC-affiliated personnel, as this formation is the primary operator of Iranian drones. [26]

Impact on Iran–United States relations

Iran's support for Russia, combined with Iranian suppression of the Mahsa Amini protests, and moves towards increased uranium enrichment, has led to a more confrontational relationship between the United States and Iran. As of 24 November 2022, the United States was not looking to revive any nuclear deal with Iran and had recently imposed additional sanctions on Iran. [27]

On 9 January 2023, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Iran's sale of drones to Russia might be "contributing to widespread war crimes" in Ukraine. [28] Sullivan said that the US would look into holding Iran's leadership to account.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iran–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Persian Empire (Iran) officially commenced in 1521, with the Safavids in power. Past and present contact between Russia and Iran have long been complicatedly multi-faceted; often wavering between collaboration and rivalry. The two nations have a long history of geographic, economic, and socio-political interaction. Mutual relations have often been turbulent, and dormant at other times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel–Ukraine relations</span> Bilateral relations

Israel–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between Israel and Ukraine. Both countries recognized each other on 11 May 1949 as the Ukrainian SSR and established de jure diplomatic relations on 26 December 1991 when Ukraine became independent. Israel has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Tel Aviv and a consulate-general in Haifa. There are 30,000 Ukrainians settled in Israel, while Ukraine has one of Europe's largest Jewish communities. Ukraine is also the first state, apart from Israel, to have had both a Jewish president and prime minister simultaneously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahed 129</span> Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle

The Shahed 129 is an Iranian single-engine medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed by Shahed Aviation Industries for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Shahed 129 is capable of combat and reconnaissance missions and has an endurance of 24 hours; it is similar in size, shape and role to the American MQ-1 Predator and is widely considered as one of the most capable drones in Iranian service.

Drone warfare is a form of aerial warfare or marine warfare using unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) or weaponized commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The United States, United Kingdom, Israel, China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Poland are known to have manufactured operational UCAVs as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russo-Ukrainian War</span> Armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine since 2014

The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing international conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2014. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian military in the Donbas war. The first eight years of conflict also included naval incidents, cyberwarfare, and heightened political tensions. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and began occupying more of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2015

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 was a 20 July 2015 resolution endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear program of Iran. It sets out an inspection process and schedule while also preparing for the removal of United Nations sanctions against Iran. The 15 nations on the Security Council unanimously endorsed the resolution, which had been negotiated by the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—plus Germany, the European Union, and Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loitering munition</span> Type of guided unmanned aerial vehicle

A loitering munition is a kind of aerial weapon with a built-in munition (warhead), which can loiter around the target area until a target is located; it then attacks the target by crashing into it. Loitering munitions enable faster reaction times against hidden targets that emerge for short periods without placing high-value platforms near the target area and also allow more selective targeting as the attack can be changed mid-flight or aborted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian invasion of Ukraine</span> Ongoing military conflict in Eastern Europe

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started in 2014. The invasion became the largest attack on a European country since World War II. It is estimated to have caused tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of military casualties. By June 2022, Russian troops occupied about 20% of Ukrainian territory. From the 41 million population in January 2022, about 8 million Ukrainians had been internally displaced and more than 8.2 million had fled the country by April 2023, creating Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. Extensive environmental damage caused by the war, widely described as an ecocide, contributed to food crises worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dnipro strikes (2022–present)</span> Russian missile attacks on Dnipro, Ukraine

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces have launched several missile attacks over the city of Dnipro in Ukraine. These have led to dozens of fatalities and over a hundred injuries among the civilian population.

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several senior Russian politicians, including president Vladimir Putin, former president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, have made a number of statements widely seen as threatening the use of nuclear weapons. The possibility of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons, and the risk of broader nuclear escalation, has been widely discussed by commentators and in the media. Additionally, the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has led to a crisis over the safety of the plant and the risk of a nuclear disaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HESA Shahed 136</span> Iranian loitering munition

The HESA Shahed 136, or Geran-2 in Russian service, is an Iranian loitering munition in the form of an autonomous pusher-prop drone. It is designed and manufactured by HESA in association with Shahed Aviation Industries.

This timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers the period from 8 April 2022, when the area of heavy fighting shifted to the south and east of Ukraine, to 28 August 2022, the day before Ukraine announced the start of its Kherson counteroffensive.

This timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers the period from 29 August 2022, when Ukraine's Kherson counteroffensive started, to 11 November 2022 when Ukrainian troops retook Kherson. In between, Ukraine launched a successful counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast. Starting in October, Russia began a campaign of massive strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimea attacks (2022–present)</span> Crimean Peninsula during the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022

Beginning in July 2022, a series of explosions and fires occurred on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula from where the Russian Army had launched its offensive on Southern Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Occupied since 2014, Crimea was a base for the subsequent Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast and Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Ukrainian government has not accepted responsibility for all of the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure (2022–present)</span> Wave of Russian attacks during its invasion of Ukraine

During the autumn and winter of 2022–2023, Russia launched waves of missile and drone strikes against energy infrastructure as part of its invasion of Ukraine. The strikes targeted civilian areas beyond the battlefield, particularly critical power infrastructure, which is considered a war crime. By the end of 2023, Russian forces launched about 7,400 missiles and 3,900 Shahed drone strikes against Ukraine according to Ukrainian military officials.

The Shahed 131, or Geran-1 in Russian service, is an Iranian-made drone which came to prominence in October 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is powered by a Wankel engine model Shahed-783/788.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial warfare in the Russian invasion of Ukraine</span>

Aerial warfare in the Russian invasion of Ukraine began at dawn of 24 February 2022, with infantry divisions and armored and air support in Eastern Ukraine, and dozens of missile attacks across Ukraine. The first fighting took place in Luhansk Oblast near the village of Milove on the border with Russia at 3:40 am Kyiv time. The main infantry and tank attacks were launched in four spearhead incursions, creating a northern front launched towards Kyiv, a southern front originating in Crimea, a south-eastern front launched at the cities of Luhansk and Donbas, and an eastern front. Dozens of missile strikes across Ukraine also reached as far west as Lviv. Drones have also been a critical part of the invasion, particularly in regards to combined arms warfare. Drones have additionally been employed by Russia in striking Ukrainian critical infrastructure, and have been used by Ukraine to strike military infrastructure in Russian territory.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating the Donbas War that began in 2014 into the Russo-Ukrainian War. Twenty-one months later, on 20 November 2023, Ukraine had cumulatively received over $44 billion in materiel aid from the United States and over $35 billion from other allies on a month-to-month basis. The aid is logistical and is provided by drawdown of existing materiel that is then delivered to Ukraine. As this materiel is expended, the allied industrial base has been gradually drawn in to supply Ukraine but had not been fully engaged as of November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyiv strikes (2022–present)</span> Russian missile strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine

Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine with around 2,950,000 residents, has been frequently targeted by the Russian Armed Forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

References

  1. ↑ Lederer, Edith M. (19 October 2022). "Ukraine accuses Iran of violating UN ban on transferring drones". PBS . Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  2. ↑ Mehdi, Syed Zafar (20 January 2022). "US in its 'weakest position,' Raisi tells Russia's State Duma". Anadolu Agency . Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Slawson, Nicola (12 April 2022). "Russia using weapons 'smuggled by Iran' in Ukraine". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Miller, Zeke; Boak, Josh (11 July 2022). "White House: Iran set to deliver armed drones to Russia". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Schmitt, Eric; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Ismay, John (17 July 2022). "As Russia Runs Low on Drones, Iran Plans to Step In, U.S. Officials Say". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Kottasová, Ivana (17 October 2022). "'Kamikaze' drones are the latest threat for Ukraine. Here's what we know". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Barnes, Julian E. (18 October 2022). "Iran Sends Drone Trainers to Crimea to Aid Russian Military". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Warrick, Joby; Nakashima, Ellen; Harris, Shane (16 October 2022). "Iran plans to send missiles, drones to Russia for Ukraine war, officials say". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Israel may transfer high-precision ballistic missiles to Ukraine if the Russian Federation receives Iranian ones - mass media". Militarnyi. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Ukraine war: US says Iranian drones breach sanctions". BBC News. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Russians began to use Shahed-131 kamikaze drones". Militarnyi. 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023.
  12. ↑ Iravani, Amir Saeid (19 October 2022). "Letter dated 19 October 2022 from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. S/2022/776. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  13. ↑ Iravani, Amir Saeid (24 October 2022). "Letter dated 24 October 2022 from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. S/2022/794. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Kennedy, Niamh; Mahmoodi, Negar; Kottasová, Ivana; Raine, Andrew (16 October 2022). "Iran denies supplying Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  15. ↑ "Iranian foreign ministry spokesman reacts to some claims about shipment of arms including military drones by Iran to Ukraine". en.mfa.ir. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "European countries urge UN probe of Iran drones in Ukraine". France 24. AFP. 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  17. ↑ Atwood, Kylie (1 November 2022). "Iran is preparing to send additional weapons including ballistic missiles to Russia to use in Ukraine, western officials say | CNN Politics". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  18. ↑ Atwood, Kylie (21 November 2022). "Russia to build attack drones for Ukraine war with the help of Iran, intelligence assessment says". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  19. ↑ Tanno, Sophie; Poole, Thom; Hayes, Mike; Meyer, Matt (28 May 2023). "Russia launched dozens of Iranian-made drones at Ukraine overnight. Kyiv claims it knocked down all but one". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. ↑ Bailey, Riley; Hird, Karolina; Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Clark, Mason (20 June 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 20, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  21. ↑ Subramaniam, Tara; Guy, Jack; Upright, Ed; Vogt, Adrienne; Sangal, Aditi; Chowdhury, Maureen (2 November 2022). "November 2, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  22. ↑ Borger, Julian (24 November 2022). "Iranian advisers killed aiding Russians in Crimea, says Kyiv". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "Zelensky addresses people of Iran: You should not side with evil". Ukrinform . 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Madhani, Aamer; Miller, Zeke (21 October 2022). "US: Iranian troops in Crimea backing Russian drone strikes". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  25. ↑ Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Bailey, Riley; Howard, Angela; Kagan, Frederick W. (25 November 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 25". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  26. ↑ Hird, Karolina; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (12 October 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 12". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  27. ↑ Sanger, David E. (24 November 2022). "United States Enters a New Era of Direct Confrontation With Iran". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  28. ↑ Long, Colleen; Miller, Zeke (9 January 2023). "U.S. says Iran may be 'contributing to widespread war crimes' in Ukraine". PBS. Associated press. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.

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