Britain claims that Russia will provide Iran with cutting-edge military hardware in exchange for drones

Ben Wallace, the British defence secretary, said on Tuesday that Britain had accused Russia of preparing to transfer Iran cutting-edge military components in exchange for hundreds of drones. Wallace urged the West to do more to expose the deal.

As part of a declaration on the Russia-Ukraine war, Wallace informed parliament that "Iran has become one of Russia's major military allies."

"We must reveal the arrangement wherein Russia agreed to furnish Iran with cutting-edge military hardware in exchange for more than 300 kamikaze drones, compromising both regional and global security. In fact, I'm doing it right now."

Wallace gave no further information regarding the specific military equipment he said Russia sought to supply Iran. Requests for comment from Reuters were not immediately answered by the Russian and Iranian foreign ministries.

Following the invasion, which Russia characterises to as a "special operation" to demilitarise its neighbour and purge it of nationalists, Britain and other Western allies have sent military aid to Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, the head of foreign policy for the European Union, urged Iran's foreign minister earlier on Tuesday that Tehran should stop providing military aid to Russia right once.

Iran has confirmed providing drones to Russia, but has claimed that the delivery occurred before Moscow's February invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities have denied using Iranian drones in Ukraine.

Russia launched its third airstrike against the Ukrainian capital in less than a week on Monday, using dozens of "kamikaze" drones to target crucial infrastructure in and around Kyiv.

"Kamikaze" or "suicide" drones are disposable, cheaply made unmanned aircraft that fly in the direction of their target before accelerating downward and exploding on impact.

Sanctions have been imposed on Iranian military personnel and defence companies that are thought to be engaged in the delivery of Iranian drones to Russia by the United States, the European Union, and Britain.