Moscow: Russia on Thursday dismissed reports that it is preparing to send drones to Iran, with the Kremlin calling the claims “lies” amid heightened tensions in the region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected a report by the Financial Times that Moscow was close to completing a drone shipment to Tehran, urging people not to believe what he described as misinformation.

“There are so many lies being spread by the media… Do not pay attention to them,” Peskov said in response to a question.

The Financial Times had reported, citing Western intelligence officials, that Russia was in the process of delivering drones to Iran and could complete the shipments by the end of March.

Moscow, a key ally of Tehran, has consistently denied providing military assistance to Iran since the United States and Israel launched attacks on the country earlier this year.

Separately, The Washington Post reported that Russia had shared sensitive intelligence with Iran, including details about the locations of U.S. warships and aircraft operating in the region, further fuelling concerns about deepening military coordination between the two countries.

In a related development, Moscow announced on Thursday that it will provide naval escort to ships carrying Russian cargo following growing cases of Western navies intercepting such vessels.

The Maritime Board of Russia, headed by the top Kremlin aide, Nikolai Patrushev, in a meeting on Wednesday, devised a set of rules for countering detention of Russian ships on high seas and international shipping lanes, portnews.ru web portal for seafarers reported.

Although these guidelines primarily cover the Azov-Black Sea basin and the Baltic Sea region, ensuring secure and efficient navigation, it was not clear whether the naval escort would be provided beyond these parts of the World.

The decision comes as European nations have stepped up efforts to disrupt Russia's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to deliver hydrocarbons to its traditional customers in India and China, and growing demand in Asian markets in the wake of the West Asia crisis and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

"Shipowners engaged with Russia have been instructed on how to coordinate with the Navy," Patrushev announced, saying oversight of cargo ships operating for Russia has been reinforced.

To enhance the safety of ships, the Russian Navy will oversee vessels under escort and monitor navigation zones, he added.