Venezuela recently requested military equipment, including drones, from Iran amid heightened tensions between Venezuela and the United States, according to internal US government documents obtained by The Washington Post.[1] It is unclear if Iran is willing and able to export drones and other military equipment to Venezuela after the Israel-Iran War, however. Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramon Celestino Velasquez reportedly “coordinated a shipment of military equipment and drones from Iran” and informed Iran that it requires “passive detection equipment,” GPS jamming devices, and drones with a range of 1,000 kilometers (approximately 600 miles).[2] The Washington Post stated that it is unclear how Iran responded to this request.[3] Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on November 3 that Venezuela can defend itself, but that Iran will “certainly” continue to cooperate with Venezuela.[4] Velasquez previously visited Tehran in September 2024 and met with Iranian Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasir Zadeh.[5] Nasir Zadeh is responsible for Iranian military equipment sales and purchases. Nasir Zadeh and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also signed a memorandum of understanding to increase “trade and mobility” between Iran and Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela, in November 2024.[6] Iran has outsourced some of its drone production to Venezuela over the past decade, including the production of Mohajer-6 drones, which have a range of 200 kilometers (approximately 124 miles).[7] It is unclear whether Iran would be willing to supply Venezuela with military equipment — despite Iran's historical military cooperation with Venezuela — given that Iran is trying to rebuild its weapons stockpiles following the Israel-Iran War. Iran launched at least 1,000 drones at Israel during the Israel-Iran War, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) destroyed at least 950 Iranian drones during the war.[8]
Internal political tensions between senior Iranian officials appear to be growing as these officials seek to gain more influence in the regime. An outlet affiliated with Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani characterized Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in an op-ed on November 1 as a political opportunist who regularly changes his positions on various issues, including engagement with the West, provincial authorities, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to increase his decision-making power in the regime.[9] Ghalibaf has played a prominent role in Iranian decision-making both during and after the Israel-Iran War. Ghalibaf reportedly took the unprecedented step of assuming a senior military command position during the war.[10] Ghalibaf also played an important role in the establishment of the Defense Council after the war to address key vulnerabilities that Israel exploited during the war.[11] This op-ed comes amid a flurry of political infighting among various Iranian factions in recent weeks. Various Iranian officials, including Ghalibaf, have harshly criticized former Iranian moderate President Hassan Rouhani for allegedly criticizing the Iranian regime's close cooperation with Russia. The political infighting comes amid recent reports that senior Iranian officials have sidelined Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and could represent an effort by various Iranian actors to increase their influence in the regime in the face of Khamenei’s reported marginalization. An X account attributed to Mossad claimed on October 30 that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Political and Security Affairs, Ali Asghar Hejazi, and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour have sidelined Khamenei and are “making decisions independently.”[12] CTP-ISW cannot independently verify this claim.
ranian military commanders have conducted a series of inspections of Artesh and IRGC units across Iran in recent days to assess and evaluate the combat capabilities and readiness of these units.
Armed Forces General Staff Deputy Chief Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has inspected the following sites since October 31:
Artesh Air Force 6th Tactical Airbase: Vahidi inspected the Artesh Air Force 6th Tactical Airbase in Bushehr Province on October 31.[16] The IDF struck this airbase during the Israel–Iran War.[17] Israeli Army Radio reported that Iran was storing ballistic missiles at the airbase.
IRGC Navy 2nd Nouh-e Nabi Region: Vahidi inspected the IRGC Navy 2nd Nouh-e Nabi Region in Bushehr Province on November 1.[18]
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour has inspected the following sites since November 1:
IRGC Ground Forces Ashoura Operational Base: Pakpour inspected the IRGC Ground Forces Ashoura Operational Base in northwestern Iran on November 1. The Operational Base oversees IRGC Ground Forces units in Zanjan, Ardabil, and East Azerbaijan provinces.
IRGC Ground Forces Provincial Units: Pakpour met with Ashoura Provincial Unit personnel in East Azerbaijan Province on November 1. The Ashoura Unit is located near the Southwest Tabriz Missile Base.[19] Israeli airstrikes during the war destroyed a missile launch control center, one storage tunnel, an air defense battery, and two stationary launchers at the site.[20] Pakpour also visited the IRGC Ground Forces Karbala and Quds provincial units, which are based in Mazandaran Province and Gilan Province, respectively.[21]
Imam Zaman Mechanized Brigade: Pakpour inspected the IRGC Ground Forces Imam Zaman Mechanized Brigade in Shabestar, East Azerbaijan Province, on November 1.[22] The brigade operates along Iran's northwestern border and conducts armored and mechanized operations.[23] The brigade previously deployed fighters to Syria to defend the Assad regime.[24]
IRGC Ground Forces Sejjil Drone Units: Pakpour inspected the IRGC Ground Forces Sejjil Drone Units during a drone exercise in an unspecified location in northwestern Iran on November 2.[25]
IRGC Navy Commander Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri inspected the following sites:
Abu Musa and Siri islands: Tangsiri inspected IRGC naval forces stationed on Abu Musa and Siri islands in the Persian Gulf on November 2.[26] Siri and Abu Musa are two of the four Nazeat Islands, along with Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, which serve as key positions for controlling maritime access to the Persian Gulf.[27] Iranian military commanders have recently increased their inspections of naval units in the Persian Gulf since September 2025.[28]
https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-november-3-2025/