Newly leaked documents have exposed a secret arms deal between Russia and Iran, revealing that President Vladimir Putin paid four tons of gold for Shahed-136 attack drones in 2023.
According to reports, the transaction was facilitated through Iranian company Sahara Thunder, a key player in Tehran’s drone manufacturing network. The first shipment, dated March 16, 2023, involved 1.8 tons of gold, valued at approximately $104 million. A second contract, signed on April 5, 2023, reportedly included an additional two tons of gold, though its delivery remains unconfirmed.
Experts suggest that Russia used gold to bypass international sanctions, avoiding restrictions on US-dollar transactions. The deal was allegedly linked to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia’s Tatarstan region, where Iranian drones are assembled.
The revelations have intensified concerns over Russia’s growing reliance on Iranian military technology, particularly amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The United States imposed sanctions on Sahara Thunder in April 2024, accusing it of acting as a front for Iran’s Defense Ministry and facilitating drone exports to Russia, China, and Venezuela.
