Helsinki Commission hearing: witnesses say Russia has strengthened Iran’s drone, intelligence and sanctions‑evasion capabilities; Ukraine offers counter‑drone '

WASHINGTON — At a bipartisan hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), lawmakers and outside experts warned that Russia has materially bolstered Iran’s ability to strike U.S. forces and regional partners and urged Congress to draw battlefield lessons from Ukraine.

Rep. Joe Wilson, the commission chair, opened the session saying Moscow and Tehran have cooperated for years and that recent evidence shows Russia is providing Iran with drone components, intelligence and other support that “threaten American families” and allied forces in the Gulf. Cochair Rep. Steve Cohen said the United States should move quickly to incorporate Ukrainian counter‑drone experience into U.S. defense efforts.

The hearing’s three witnesses — Elon Berman, senior vice president at the American Foreign Policy Council; Ben (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), senior director of the Iran program at the…