Tehran sends hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia
Iran has provided Russia with around 400 powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, Reuters reported on Feb. 21, citing six sources.
The provision includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources said. This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km (186 and 435 miles).
The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalized in meetings late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials that took place in Tehran and Moscow.
An Iranian military official said that there had been at least four shipments of missiles and there would be more in the coming weeks. He declined to provide further details.
Read also: Kremlin tight-lipped on rumors of possible delivery of short-range ballistic missiles from Iran
Another senior Iranian official said some of the missiles were sent to Russia by ship via the Caspian Sea, while others were transported by plane.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington had seen evidence of talks actively advancing but “no indication yet of deliveries having taken place.”
Kyiv also has not yet registered any use of Iranian ballistic missiles by Russian forces, according to a Ukrainian military source.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials believed that Iran was preparing to provide Russia with short-range ballistic missiles to use against Ukraine.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the Teheran's alleged preparations to supply short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, Russian media reported, citing Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
The United States believes that Iran is becoming an increasingly important partner to Russia, and is benefiting from the relationship. Sources say that Russia is helping Iran improve its satellite capabilities and is supplying the country with missiles, air defense systems, and military electronics.
Read also: Iran prepares to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia — report
Washington previously accused Iran of supplying Mohajer-6 and other drones to Russia. According to media reports, in exchange for the arms, Russia supplies Iran with cyber warfare technology, "captured Western weapons," and assists in developing Iran's missile program.
Russia is also engaged in the production of Iranian kamikaze drones in the special economic zone in Alabuga, Tatarstan. Iran transfers materials and technologies to Russia, and continues to supply Shahed attack drones. However, Moscow officially denies this.
Kyiv has repeatedly asked Tehran to stop supplying Shahed drones to Russia, which have become a staple of Moscow's long-range assaults on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, alongside an array of missiles.
The country’s air force said in December that Russia had launched 3,700 Shahed drones during the war, which can fly hundreds of kilometers and explode on impact. Ukrainians call them "mopeds" because of the distinctive sound of their engines; air defenses down dozens of them each week.
Read also: Hezbollah commander trains Russian drone operators in Syria for deployment against Ukraine
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