Iran wants help from Russia to help them develop a stronger nuclear weapons program. U.S intelligence suggests that Iran has been asking Putin for help in getting nuclear materials and with nuclear fuel fabrication. This fuel fabrication could help Iran develop nuclear weapons at a faster rate and shorten Iran’s “breakout time”. The “breakout time” is the time needed to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon. 

On the flip side, Iran sent forces to Crimea to help in teaching the Russian soldiers to use drones. As said in a CNN article posted by Katie Bo Lillis and Natasha Bertrand, “Iran has sent military personnel to Russian-occupied territory inside Crimea to train and advise the Russian military on the use of Iranian-built drones that Moscow has used to devastating effect in its war in Ukraine, according to two sources familiar with US intelligence”(October 19). Russia has been launching what is believed to be Iranian-made drones from Crimea to Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, in increasing numbers in the past weeks. 

A spokesman for the Iranian mission at the United Nations said “Iran does not confirm this claim and rejects it” (said in a CNN article by Katie Bo Lillis and Natasha Bertrand on Oct 19).

The transferring of these Iranian-made drones to Russia violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which restricts certain arms transfers to or from Iran.