Russia pays for Iranian drones with gold bars

Russia has provided an Iranian company with at least 1.8 tons of gold bars worth about $104 million in payment for Shahed-136 strike drones, according to research group C4ADS, which has access to the contract between the parties.

It is noted that the manually filled out form dated March 16, 2023, stated that 1,788,402.2 grams of gold was delivered and its price was set at $58.32 per gram. This document was signed between the Iranian company Sahara Thunder and the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, where drones are assembled.

In addition, another contract dated April 5, 2023, mentions more than two tons of gold. This is also intended for Iran. However, the details of the delivery remain unknown.