What Iran stands to gain from helping Russia in Ukraine

Breaking Defence

By   ARIE EGOZIon October 24, 2022

TEL AVIV — As the White House sounds the alarm about Russia’s use of Iranian drones in deadly attacks in Ukraine, Iran’s greatest adversary in the Middle East, Israel, is warily eyeing the evolving relationship between Moscow and Tehran, and trying to predict what it means for the region.

According to analysts and sources here, there’s concern that Iran could reap concrete rewards in the short term and could strengthen its strategic hand long into the future.

For its part, Iran has denied that it’s supplying the weapons to Russia, an argument that’s failed to convince American and European officials. In a statement to Politico, which also reported some of the benefits Iran may expect to see, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Iran’s aiding of Russia was “just another example of Iran’s desire to export violence, and both Iran and Russia need to be held accountable for it.”

But as with everything in the Middle East, it’s not that simple. Here are some areas of key concern, according to the Israeli analysts and sources.

Perhaps the quickest reward for Iran’s help in supplying drones to Russia will be the simple fact of being able to see them perform in a live combat situation, an Israeli military source told Breaking Defense. The US military has made no secret that it’s been learning lesson after lesson about weapons systems and tactics from watching the Ukraine conflict, and there’s no reason Iranian military commanders wouldn’t do the same.

Late last week Kirby told reporters “Iranian military personnel” were on the ground in Crimea to “assist Russia” in UAV operations, giving them a front row seat.

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https://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/what-iran-stands-to-gain-from-helping-russia-in-ukraine/