Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Possible Russia-Iran defense partnership has US, Britain on edge

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: PBS
  • 17 Dec 2022 10:51
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

CIA Director William Burns claims a Russian-Iranian defense partnership can have a dangerous impact on the Middle East.

  • x
  • CIA Director William Burns (Getty Images)
    CIA Director William Burns (Getty Images)

CIA Director William Burns pointed out on Friday that the US is concerned about the growing cooperation between Russia and Iran and fears that it could eventually evolve into a full defense partnership.

In an interview for PBS, Burns said that "historically, there's a lot of mistrust between Russians and Iranians, but they need each other right now."

"Quite worried," said the CIA director in response to a question about how worried is Washington about the Russian-Iranian relationship, adding that "what's beginning to emerge is at least the beginnings of a full-fledged defense partnership between Russia and Iran."

He claimed that this relationship is "already having an impact on the battlefield in Ukraine," warning that "it can have an even more dangerous impact on the Middle East as well if it continues."

"It's something that we take very, very seriously," Burns pointed out.

It is noteworthy that Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani pointed out on Monday that Kiev failed to provide concrete evidence proving that Iran had supplied drones to Russia.

According to Ashtiani, Iran and Russia have a trade and military history that stretches back for decades, but they have never discussed supplying Iranian-made drones to be used in Russia's special operation in Ukraine.

Last month, Iran's permanent mission to the UN requested to meet with Ukraine experts to provide Tehran with valid proof that Iran had supplied drones to Russia for combat use against Kiev's forces. Their failure to do so validates that the allegations were deliberately fabricated by Kiev to discredit and demonize Iran.

Then on November 23, it was reported that a meeting between Iranian and Ukrainian military experts was held to discuss Kiev's allegations regarding Russia's alleged use of Iranian-made drones in Ukraine, but no details were provided.

Related News

Trump orders national guard expansion in Washington

Musk’s xAI sues Apple, OpenAI over antitrust collusion in AI market

Ever since the White House issued in July a statement that Iran is planning to supply Russia with hundreds of drones, the West has repeatedly accused Iran of aiding Russia in its combat efforts, despite Moscow denying allegations that it received drones from Iran for combat-related use. 

Iran has repeatedly stressed that it will not side in the war, denying all claims that it has provided Russia with weapons to be used in Ukraine.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had confirmed that Iran did provide a small batch of drones to Russia, but that was before the Ukraine conflict broke out.

On October 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow and Tehran gave exhaustive explanations to the UN Security Council on the alleged use of Iranian drones in combat.

UK: Russia-Iran "sordid deals" threatening global security

In a related context, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly claimed that "sordid deals" between Russia and Iran are threatening global security.

In a press release published on the website of the UK government, Cleverly accused Iran of providing Russia with hundreds of drones to use in Ukraine, adding that Tehran "is now one of Russia’s top military backers."

He also claimed that Russia is offering military and technical support to the Iranian government, which will "increase the risk it poses to our partners in the Middle East and to international security."

"The UK will continue to expose this desperate alliance and hold both countries to account," Cleverly said.

The press release read that "the UK is concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with more advanced military components, allowing the regime to strengthen their weapons capability."

It is noteworthy that the Russian-Iranian cooperation is worrying the Israeli occupation, as Israeli media reported that the military intelligence directorates in the Israeli occupation are currently highly concerned over the Russian-Iranian military and security cooperation.

Reports made by intelligence agencies, Israeli media said, are talking about a bilateral agreement to manufacture hundreds of military UAVs in Moscow and the export of advanced air defense systems from Russia to Iran.

  • United States
  • James Cleverly
  • Russia
  • US
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • CIA
  • William Burns
  • Iran
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS