Worthy Christian News > World News > Russia Involved In Military Games In Iran, Raising Concerns

Russia Involved In Military Games In Iran, Raising Concerns

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent

TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Russia and its allies are involved in military games in Iran when Moscow seeks sophisticated Iranian combat drones for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Worthy News monitored.

Besides Russia, Belarus and Armenia also participated in a “military drone tournament” launched in central Iran by Iran’s feared Revolutionary guard, several sources said.

Iranian state television showed footage from a ceremony held earlier this week in the city of Kashan, with dozens of delegates from the four countries gathered to inaugurate the games.

Kashan is where many of the elite force’s drone tests are conducted, said observers with close knowledge about the situation.

The 2022 “Falcon Hunting” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) competition was reportedly part of broader annual military games launched by Russia in 2015.

The event was hosted by the aerospace division of what is officially known as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The White House has raised eyebrows over Russia’s attempts to obtain “hundreds” of combat drones from Islamic-ruled Iran.

‘IRAN SUPPORTING WAR’

In recent weeks, a spokesman for the U.S. national security council said the deal, revealed by the White House, shows Iran’s willingness to support Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

But spokesman John Kirby hastened to add that the supply of drones would not necessarily ongoing attempts to negotiate a return to the 2015 six-party deal to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

“We continue to want to see a nuclear deal that takes Iran’s nuclear ambitions, at least its nuclear weapons ambitions, off the table,” Kirby added.

Russia’s other ally, Venezuela, is also boosting its cooperation with Moscow and Iran by reportedly hosting sniper military exercises with these countries.

Both of these joint military drills, which started on August 15, are being held in Iran and Venezuela “within the framework of Russia’s 2022 International Military Exercises,” officials said.

“The goal, the spirit of these games is to unite cultures and peoples more” than to demonstrate military skills, said Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez in published remarks.

VENEZUELA SENDING TROOPS

The minister noted that a delegation of 200 Venezuelan soldiers was sent to Russia to participate amid more comprehensive military cooperation.

The annual military exercises were launched in 2015 by Russia, and about 30 countries, including China, Iran, India, Cuba, and Myanmar, have participated in them.

It has added to concern within the United States and its Western allies about a new military power block developing in the east and beyond.

That could undermine Western attempts to restrain Russia in Ukraine, according to a Worthy News assessment.

Russia also launched an Iranian satellite from Kazakhstan on Tuesday and reached orbit amid controversy that Moscow might use it to boost its surveillance of military targets in Ukraine.

As Russia’s international isolation grows following Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is seeking to pivot Russia toward the Middle East, Asia, and Africa and find new clients for the country’s space program.