Iranian Shahed drone [AP=Yonhap News]

Russia is reportedly expanding military cooperation with Iran by providing it with satellite imagery and drone technology.

Citing senior European intelligence officials and Middle Eastern diplomats, the U.S. daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 16th (local time) that Russia is providing Iran with satellite imagery and improved drone technology.

According to officials, Russia has provided Iran with improved components for its Shahed drones, enhancing their communication, navigation, and target-strike capabilities.

Furthermore, Russia is reportedly advising Iran on specific tactical operational methods, such as the number of drones to deploy and optimal flight altitudes for missions, based on its experience accumulated in the Ukraine war.

Earlier, the WSJ had reported that Russia had been sharing information on the locations of U.S. military and allied assets in the Middle East with Iran.

This cooperation has intensified since the early stages of the current war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, reaching a point recently where Russia is directly providing satellite imagery to Iran, according to officials.

Experts assess that this support is similar in nature to the intelligence support that the U.S. and Europe have been providing to Ukraine in recent years.

Indeed, Iran has been striking U.S. military assets in the Gulf region by using drones to neutralize radar systems before launching missile attacks. This is analyzed as being similar to Russia's tactics observed on the Ukrainian battlefield.

It is believed that the ability to strike U.S. radar systems was possible thanks to Russia's support.

Iran's targets are reported to have included not only early warning radars of the High-Altitude Air Defense System (THAAD) deployed in Jordan but also other U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

Satellite imagery allows for more precise identification of detailed information and movement patterns of ground and maritime targets, which can be used for target selection before an attack and damage assessment afterward.

Iranian military expert Jim Ransom stated, "If the images provided by Russia include highly valuable information such as aircraft, ammunition storage facilities, air defense assets, and naval movements, it would be of practical help to Iran's operations."

The WSJ reported that Iran has been more successful in targeting U.S. and Gulf nation military assets in this war than during the '12-day war' with Israel last year.