US accuses Iran of ‘defence partnership’ with Russia

By Nathan Morley

US national Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Iran is giving Russia an unprecedented level of military support.

Kirby said Washington had seen evidence that Tehran and Moscow were considering joint production of lethal drones, a move, he said, which would pose a threat to Iran's neighbours and the global community.

Ukraine has already accused Iran of providing Russia with drones used in a series of lethal attacks in October.

Though Iran denied the charge, Ukraine's President said his forces were shooting down about 10 Iranian drones a day.

‘Threat to global security’

In London, the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Iran had become one of Russia's key military allies and that the relationship was ‘threatening global security’.

Earlier, Australia's foreign minister said the supply of drones to Russia was evidence of the role Iran plays in destabilising global security.

Meanwhile, NATO's chief has expressed a worry that fighting in Ukraine could spiral out of control and become an all-out conflict between Russia and NATO.

Jens Stoltenberg said “there is no doubt that a full-fledged war is a possibility.”