The US is pressuring Iran to stop supplying military drones to Russia as part of negotiations on a broader “unwritten understanding” between Washington and Tehran to de-escalate tensions, according to the Financial Times (FT), which cited sources briefed on the matter.
As per the sources, the talks have been taking place alongside negotiations on a prisoner swap arrangement, which resulted in Tehran sending four Iranian-American citizens from prison to house arrest last week.
US, Iran Negotiations
According to an Iranian official aware of the negotiations, the US wants Iran to cease selling drones and replacement parts to Russia, which Moscow uses in the Ukraine War.
In the FT report, the official also stated that Tehran has repeatedly requested Moscow to stop deploying its drones in Ukraine, but Washington needed “more concrete steps.”
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US is pursuing a plan of deterrence, pressure, and diplomacy to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, as well as trying to hold Tehran accountable for human rights violations and the “provision of drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.”
Blinken stated, “We’ve been clear that Iran must de-escalate to create space for future diplomacy [...] The move of our detainees out of prison and to home detention is not linked to any other aspect of our Iran policy.”
In the FT report, the negotiators expect that the indirect talks would result in both parties agreeing on de-escalation measures. According to the Iranian official and another person briefed on the negotiations, this would entail Iran committing not to enrich uranium over 60% purity, strengthening its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and pledging not to target Americans.
In exchange, Washington would refrain from implementing new sanctions in various sectors, except those concerning human rights, and would not vigorously enforce the existing penalties on oil shipments, as stated by an Iranian official to FT.
US asks Iran to stop selling drones to Russia: Reporthttps://t.co/kYoUpHiBO2 pic.twitter.com/PFuAkaT5o5
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) August 16, 2023
Iran Supplying Drones to Russia
Iran’s shipment of lethal drones to Russia piqued worldwide interest and concern in August 2022. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, by December, Iran had provided more than 1,700 drones capable of suicide bombings, surveillance and intelligence, and combat.
By early 2023, Tehran and Moscow were said to have devised a strategy for building 6,000 Iranian models at a new Russian factory.
In May 2023, the US reported that Iran was assisting Russia’s plans to construct a drone factory hundreds of miles east of Moscow. According to John Kirby of the National Security Council, the plant might begin producing drones in 2024.
Further, Tehran is reportedly supplying components for the facility, which would allow Russia to produce its drone supply rather than importing drones from Iran across the Caspian Sea.
The Conflict Armament Research organisation reveals that Russia began deploying duplicates of Iranian suicide drones in Ukraine as early as July 2023.
US Plans to Contain Iran’s Nuclear Crisis
According to the FT report, given how far Iran’s nuclear development has progressed, policymakers and analysts agree that the 2015 agreement is irreparable.
In the report, sources reveal that US President Joe Biden’s administration intends to postpone the nuclear problem until after the 2024 presidential elections in the US. Analysts believe that if Biden wins, there may be an opportunity to reach a more comprehensive agreement.