White House rejects Tehran denial of selling kamikaze drones to Russia

The Biden administration has contested Iranian denials that the Islamic regime sold kamikaze drones to Russia for use against Ukraine in the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.

"We have been warning since July... that Iran was planning to sell UAVs to Russia for use against Ukraine... There is extensive proof of their use by Russia against both military and civilian targets there," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday, according to The Hill.

"You all have seen as well the reports this morning of what appear to be an Iranian drone strike in downtown Kyiv, yet Iran continues to lie about this," Jean-Pierre went on. "They have not been truthful about this and deny providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to these new reports, Iran is considering selling more destructive weapons to support an invasion they claim to oppose."

The outlet pointed to images from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse that appeared to depict aerial objects that resembled the Shahed-136, an Iranian unmanned aircraft. Iran denies that it has sold any weaponry to either side in the war.

The Biden administration has vowed to continue pressuring both Russia and Iran with economic sanctions to stop further sales, though neither nation enjoys good relations with the United States at the moment and both already endure considerable Western sanctions.

President Joe Biden himself, alongside his foreign policy advisors, have relentlessly pursued a renewed nuclear agreement with Tehran after former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). President Barack Obama negotiated that arrangement while Biden served as vice president.

Iran is currently facing nationwide protests over the killing of a young woman by Iranian authorities. Biden had, at first, largely ignored the mass demonstrations, seemingly not wishing to upset the government in Tehran and risk negotiations. He has, however, since made an about-face and openly thrown his support behind the regime's detractors.

"Iran has to end the violence against its own citizens simply exercising their fundamental rights," Biden said on Friday.

Biden's comments and the administration's sanctions plan will likely present an obstacle to a renewed agreement, but Jean-Pierre insisted that "[t]he door for diplomacy will always remain open."