Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has claimed that Russia is supplying Shahed drones to Iran, which are being used in attacks targeting United States military bases and Israel.
Speaking in an interview with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, Zelenskiy said it is “100 per cent factual” that Iran has deployed Russian-made Shahed drones against US positions in the region.
The remarks add to growing international concern over the expanding military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, particularly as tensions escalate across the Middle East.
Shahed drones have been linked to multiple attacks in the region in recent years, although responsibility and manufacturing origins have often been disputed. Iran originally developed the Shahed drone program as a low-cost alternative to traditional missile systems, allowing mass deployment at a fraction of the cost.
The drones first gained global attention during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where Ukrainian officials say thousands of Shahed drones have been launched by Russian forces since late 2022. While Iran initially supplied the drones, Russia has since begun domestic production of Shahed variants, further accelerating their use.
Zelenskiy noted that Shahed-type drones have now been adopted by several militaries worldwide, including the US military, which has acknowledged their role in ongoing operations related to Iran.
Security analysts warn that the spread of Shahed drone technology represents a growing challenge for regional and global stability, as the weapons are inexpensive, difficult to intercept, and increasingly accessible to state and non-state actors.
