US Aims to Disrupt Iranian Drone Production, Says White House Official

The U.S. administration is taking various measures to prevent Iran from producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and supplying them to Russia for use in military operations in Ukraine. This was stated by Adrian Watson, the spokesperson for the National Security Council of the White House, in an interview with The New York Times.

“We are looking for ways to counter Iranian drone production through sanctions, export controls, and negotiations with private companies whose production components have been used in UAV manufacturing. We are evaluating further steps aimed at export controls that could limit Iran's capabilities to access technologies used in drones,” he said.

The article notes that the U.S. primarily seeks to deprive Tehran of Western parts and components used in UAVs. In addition, the U.S. armed forces are assisting Ukrainian military personnel in identifying launching sites of Iranian drones. Moreover, Americans are rapidly developing new technologies for early warning of drone approaches for Kyiv.

According to the publication, U.S. authorities are facing significant challenges in implementing all three aspects of the program. Specifically, it is noted that Iranian specialists may still take advantage of black market services and circumvent export controls to acquire Western components.