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  "path": "/news/world/iran-vladimir-putin-direct-conflict-american-troops-russia-drones",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-26T00:26:35.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "the US said to be considering whether to send the 82nd Airborne Division to seize Kharg Island",
    "Ex-marine accuses Keir Starmer of 'humiliating Britain' over Iran war while praising Emmanuel Macron",
    "Donald Trump to 'unleash hell' on Iran as ex-MI6 chief warns Islamic Republic has 'upper hand on US'",
    "'You are negotiating with yourselves!' Iran taunts Donald Trump and launches strikes at US bases",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nVladimir Putin is set to begin sending supplies to Iran in a bid to bolster the Islamic Republic's war effort against the US and Israel.\n\nWestern intelligence services have claimed Russia held secretive talks with Tehran to discuss drone supplies shortly after the the conflict erupted on February 28, the Financial Times has reported.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOver the past few weeks, Moscow has provided the Middle Eastern country with intelligence, satellite imagery and targeting data.\n\nHowever, the supply of drones would be the first instance of Russia directly handing the Islamic Republic lethal weaponry in the war. ****\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nAnd it could set up direct Russian attacks on American forces, with the US said to be considering whether to send the 82nd Airborne Division to seize Kharg Island.\n\nThe elite paratrooper unit, dubbed the \"Immediate Response Force\" and renowned for its parachute assault capabilities, could furnish approximately 3,000 soldiers for a potential operation to seize the island, according to the New York Times.\n\nThe strategic Iranian facility handles nine-tenths of the country's petroleum exports, making it a critical target.\n\nSo far, the White House has downplayed reports of a ground offensive - while Moscow has insisted it has not been helping Iran in the conflict so far.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSecurity officials told the Financial Times that Russia would only be able to supply a handful of different types of drones, including the Geran-2 and the so-called \"kamikaze\" Shahed-136 models.\n\nWhen probed about the potential supply of aircraft, Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov refused to confirm or deny the reports.\n\nHe said: \"There are a lot of fakes going around right now.\n\n\"One thing is true - we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership.\"\n\nOn Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's intelligence services had \"irrefutable\" evidence that Moscow has already handed the Iranians vital intelligence.\n\n### IRAN - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Ex-marine accuses Keir Starmer of 'humiliating Britain' over Iran war while praising Emmanuel Macron\n  * Donald Trump to 'unleash hell' on Iran as ex-MI6 chief warns Islamic Republic has 'upper hand on US'\n  * 'You are negotiating with yourselves!' Iran taunts Donald Trump and launches strikes at US bases\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe also revealed many of the unmanned aircraft being deployed by the Islamic Republic to target US military assets contained Russian components.\n\nThe Ukrainian leader went on to claim the Kremlin was attempting to \"blackmail\" Washington by offering to stop handing intelligence to Tehran in exchange for the US blocking off Kyiv from its intelligence data.\n\nMr Zelensky said: \"I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: 'I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine'.\n\n\"Isn't that blackmail? Absolutely.\"\n\nReports of Moscow's supply of lethal aid comes as Iran insisted that no peace talks have been held with the US to bring the conflict to an end.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIranian state media outlet, Press TV, has claimed the Islamic Republic has rejected a US ceasefire proposal.\n\nThe state-run outlet quoted an anonymous regime official as saying: \"Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met.\n\n\"No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations.\"\n\nMeanwhile, White House press chief Karoline Leavitt has insisted Washington is engaging in dialogue with Tehran despite the regime's denial.\n\nShe told reporters on Wednesday: \"Talks continue. They are productive, as the President said on Monday, and they continue to be.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Vladimir Putin risks direct conflict with American troops as Russia sends barrage of drones to Iran"
}