August M
A leaked Russian intelligence proposal reportedly detailed plans to help Iran counter potential US military operations in the Gulf using advanced drones and specialised training programs.
Digi24.ro, citing reporting from The Economist, said the confidential document was prepared by Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency during the height of tensions between Iran and the United States.
Drone support proposed
According to The Economist, the plan involved supplying Iran with 5,000 short-range fibre-optic drones similar to those heavily used in the war in Ukraine.
The proposal also reportedly included long-range satellite-guided drones and operator training programs aimed at Iranian forces.
The publication said there is currently no direct evidence confirming that the equipment was ever delivered or that training began.
New battlefield tactics
The report described fibre-optic drones as one of the most important innovations to emerge from the war in Ukraine.
Unlike traditional radio-controlled drones, the systems are guided through thin cables, making them resistant to electronic jamming.
According to Digi24.ro, the drones can carry out attacks from distances exceeding 40 kilometres while transmitting stable video feeds without exposing operators through radio signals.
Gulf conflict fears
The GRU document reportedly focused on scenarios involving possible US amphibious operations near the Strait of Hormuz or Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil terminal.
One diagram allegedly showed how Iranian drone teams could attack American landing craft using coordinated swarms launched from concealed coastal positions.
The proposal warned that Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine limited the resources Moscow could devote to supporting Iran directly.
Wider cooperation grows
Digi24.ro reported that Western intelligence agencies have already accused Russia and Iran of deepening military cooperation in recent years.
The article also referenced claims that Russia had prepared upgraded versions of Iranian-designed Shahed drones capable of carrying heavier payloads and evading air defences more effectively.
Investigative journalist Hristo Grozev told The Economist the document appeared consistent with broader evidence of Russian efforts to expand support for Tehran during tensions with the US and Israel.
The report suggested Moscow viewed limited and deniable assistance as a way to complicate potential American military operations without becoming directly involved in a wider conflict.
Sources: Digi24.ro, The Economist.
