UANI Statement On Iran Weapons Proliferation And Potential Drone Sales To Russia

(New York, N.Y.) — United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Chairman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following joint statement today in response to the Biden Administration’s disclosure that Iran is preparing to sell weapons-capable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to Russia.

“The Biden Administration is rightly concerned by the prospect of arms sales or transfers from Tehran to Moscow. Iranian weapons proliferation underscores that Russia cannot be trusted with holding nuclear materials as was prescribed by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the White House continues to work to resuscitate. It is also deeply concerning that Russia stands to gain from a $10 billion Rosatom contract to develop Iranian nuclear power plants under the JCPOA, and believes Iran is an option to fill its depleted drone arsenal.

“Iran, of course, has been provisioning armed UAVs to its own terror proxies, including the Houthis and Iraqi militias, to attack civilians and U.S. military personnel throughout the region. Surely, as President Biden and Secretary Blinken prepare for meetings with regional leaders in Jeddah, they should express equal concern about advanced Iranian weapons being used against Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Yemen.

“UANI wholly expects that the Biden Administration and Europe will enact stronger economic penalties to deter Iran’s weapons proliferation, which is made possible in part by the JCPOA’s sunset provisions. The U.N. arms embargo on Iran expired in October 2020 and provides legal cover for Iran to export drones to Russia. This is not the time to enrich Iran by providing sanctions relief which will resource its proliferation. It is, however, past due that the U.S. and its European allies increase pressure against Iran and abandon talks to re-enter the JCPOA.

“Russia and Iran are close partners, and a threat to U.S. national security. Neither can be trusted to act responsibly. The U.S. cannot ignore these truths by continuing its failing Iran strategy.”

To read UANI’s resource The Iranian Drone Threat, please click here.