Shahed drone used as evidence of Russia–Iran alliance during US Congress event
Criticizing Iran’s role in fueling armed conflicts worldwide, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers used a Shahed-136 drone downed in Ukraine as evidence, Kyiv Post reported on May 9.
The Iranian–designed UAV was shot down and captured largely intact by the Ukrainian military and then delivered to the United States via Poland.
The drone was displayed at the Cannon House Office Building during an event organized by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), an organization that works to counter Iranian threats, including its nuclear program and military aggression.
Event organizers said the drone is a tangible example of the threat Iran poses to the West.
"It’s the true face of the Iranian regime," said UANI policy director Jason Brodsky in an interview.
UANI CEO and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mark Wallace called the Shahed 136 "the most common weapon of mass destruction in the world today."
Speaker Johnson agreed, noting that such drones have changed the economics of war—to the detriment of the United States. Other lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. James Lankford, spoke about Iran’s role in enabling Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
In April alone, Ukrainian air defense destroyed 2,332 airborne targets, including 1,214 Shahed strike drones and 364 other UAVs.
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