Iran’s Simorgh Soha company has announced the initiation of advanced drone exports to both Iraq and Colombia, signaling a new phase in the proliferation of Iranian military technology beyond the Middle East. The company revealed that its latest unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are equipped with sophisticated artificial intelligence systems that allow fully autonomous operation, including aerial photography and logistics delivery, without the need for human pilots.
The development has drawn scrutiny from international security experts and governments, who emphasize the risks posed by the widening reach of Iranian defense technology—especially as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has historically used such platforms to amplify its influence through regional proxies and foster instability. The unprecedented entry into the Colombian market further fuels concern that Iranian military innovation is now a global issue, with potential downstream effects on both regional dynamics and global security frameworks.
Strategic Implications of Drone Exports
The export of AI-enabled drones represents the latest milestone in Iran’s decade-long push to develop a homegrown drone industry, primarily under the auspices of the IRGC and supported by the Iranian defense sector. Since 2011, Iranian drone capabilities have surged, playing a central role in supporting allied militias—including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza—in acts of violence and terrorism against Israeli and Western interests. Iranian drones, often operating under the command structure of the Quds Force (the IRGC’s foreign operations wing), have been deployed for surveillance, reconnaissance, and increasingly as loitering munitions or platforms for armed attack.
While Simorgh Soha has presented its drones as dual-use or civilian platforms suitable for aerial photography and commercial delivery, Western intelligence officials stress that these systems are part of a broader pattern of technology transfer intended to serve both economic and military goals. Iranian-manufactured UAVs can be quickly converted or adapted for surveillance, weapon delivery, or electronic warfare, making their proliferation especially alarming.
The Colombian Dimension: A New Front
The inclusion of Colombia—a key U.S. ally in Latin America—as a recipient of Iranian drones is without precedent. Latin American security officials have expressed concern that Iranian technology, previously concentrated in Middle Eastern conflict zones, might empower not only state actors but non-state entities such as guerilla groups operating in Colombia and neighboring countries. The risk of technology leakage, or direct cooperation with organizations with ties to transnational crime and terrorism, has prompted calls for robust oversight and international regulation of drone purchases.
Implications for Israel and the Region
For Israel, the proliferation of Iranian AI-enabled drones is another front in the ongoing war against Iranian-backed terror networks. Israeli defense officials have repeatedly warned that Iran’s drone program is inseparable from its campaign to destabilize the Middle East, fomenting terror through Hamas, Hezbollah, and other proxies. The October 7, 2023 massacre—executed by Hamas terrorists using Iranian-supplied tactics and weaponry—was the deadliest antisemitic attack against Jews since the Holocaust and underscored the threat posed by state-supported terror infrastructure.
Since then, Israel has been forced to intercept or destroy scores of hostile UAVs launched from Gaza, southern Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, all part of Tehran’s wider strategy to surround and pressure the Jewish state. Israeli advancements in drone defense—such as the Iron Dome and new directed-energy systems—are now a vital component of the country’s national security doctrine as the threat expands geographically.
Global Response and U.S. Position
The United States and its partners have imposed successive rounds of sanctions on Iranian defense firms and IRGC-linked entities for their role in proliferating drone and missile technologies. The export of AI-capable drones introduces further complexity, making detection and interdiction of illicit technology transfers more challenging and requiring enhanced intelligence cooperation across continents. U.S. policymakers have also voiced concerns that Latin America’s embrace of Iranian technology could facilitate anti-Western operations and provide Iranian operatives with a foothold closer to the U.S. homeland.
Technology and Terror: The Dual-Use Dilemma
The AI advancements powering Simorgh Soha’s drones represent significant progress in autonomy, navigation, and target acquisition. While these features drive innovation in civilian industries, they also pose sweeping risks if weaponized or deployed for intelligence gathering by malign actors. The transferability of software and hardware between civilian and military functions complicates efforts to regulate or track the end-use of exported drones.
Iran’s Broader Ambitions and the ‘Axis of Resistance’
Through technology exports, Iran aims to solidify its leadership of the so-called ‘axis of resistance’—a coalition of states and terror organizations aligned against Israel, the United States, and Western interests. Providing advanced drones not only enhances the operational capabilities of its partners but strengthens Tehran’s political leverage, particularly with governments seeking alternatives to U.S. and European technology.
The expanding list of beneficiaries of Iranian military technology—from Hamas and Hezbollah to regional state actors and, now, Colombia—reflects a calculated strategy to undermine Western influence while promoting an autonomous front in modern warfare.
Conclusion: International Action Needed to Counter Drone Proliferation
The debut of Iranian AI drones in Colombia represents a potentially destabilizing development in international security. As adversarial actors gain access to sophisticated unmanned platforms, the global community must respond with coordinated regulation, transparency in commercial tech sales, and enhanced intelligence work to intercept potentially weaponized systems. Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Iranian-backed terrorism, and the growing reach of the IRGC, demand not only military readiness but persistent diplomatic engagement to prevent the spread of technology that could fuel new conflicts.
As Iran continues to advance and export disruptive military technologies—demonstrating both technical sophistication and political ambition—the stakes for democracies and allies combating Tehran’s proxy war remain high. The world must be vigilant, proactive, and united in confronting a threat that now spans from the Middle East to Latin America and beyond.
