Ukraine’s Footprint in the Gulf Grows. Iran Accuses Kyiv of Deploying Drone Units Near the Country.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that Ukraine has deployed drone units in the Gulf and near Iran.

Citing the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, Iran International noted that thousands of miniature drones were detected in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

Tehran considers the development to be part of "hostile actions by Europe and NATO" and is weighing a response, the outlet added.

Reports from earlier this year have detailed that Ukraine has been using its expertise in drone warfare, acquired throughout years of war with Russia, to help countries in the region counter Iranian attacks.

The country has also become a leading producer of battle-tested drone interceptors, which are cheap and effective. Moreover, Russia and Iran use similar types of attack drones, so it is in a solid position to help countries intercept drones launched by Tehran.

"We sent our military experts to the Middle East, including specialists in interceptor drones and electronic warfare. We demonstrated to some countries how to work with interceptors," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said back in April. "Did we destroy Iranian Shaheds? Yes, we did. Did we do it in just one country? No, in several. And in my view, this is a success."

The president also claimed back then that Kyiv had signed 10-year agreements with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar to protect specific facilities.

Kyiv, however, is dealing with its own challenges. Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that the Trump administration is holding up key missiles that Europe has already paid for as relations between the two governments continue to sour.

Speaking with U.S. senators on Monday, Zelenskyy said the Pentagon is "delaying the delivery of" Patriot missiles, which Kyiv uses to intercept Russian projectiles.

"The missiles are ready and they could already be in Ukraine," Zelenskyy added, claiming that "unfortunately, there is still no approval." A report from last week claimed that Ukraine had already ran out of Patriots.

Zelenskyy also told Bloomberg on Sunday that he believes "steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate."

"I am not saying that this is the goal our partners are pursuing," he added, saying he did not want to believe American officials thought the war could end sooner at Ukraine's expense. "But that's how it looks."