European officials say they believe Russia is preparing to deliver advanced combat drones to Iran for use in its conflict with the United States and Israel. The concerns follow deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where Russian forces have relied heavily on Iranian-designed drones.

According to European intelligence assessments, Russia may also be sharing satellite data and other intelligence with Iran about American military positions in the region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country’s intelligence services had found evidence that drones produced under Iranian licenses in Russia were transferred to Tehran and used in attacks on American facilities. Western intelligence reports cited by British and European officials suggest shipments of drones and other supplies could be underway, though some officials caution that deliveries have not been independently confirmed.

The Kremlin has denied supplying drones or military components to Iran, calling such reports false. The alleged assistance would mark a reversal of earlier cooperation, when Iran provided hundreds of drones to Russia during a critical phase of the war in Ukraine. Russia has since expanded its domestic drone production capacity significantly, modifying Iranian designs and scaling up output at a major facility east of Moscow.