- August 10, 2024
- 1:11 am
- World News
“Iran and Russia are engaged in mutual purchases of spare parts and military equipment. How each country uses this equipment is entirely their decision.”“,” an Iranian official told Reuters.
Dozens of Russian troops are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile system, according to two European intelligence sources seen by Reuters. Hundreds of the satellite-guided missiles are expected to be quickly shipped to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, the sources added.
Reuters August 10, 2024 also reports that Russian defense officials allegedly signed a contract with Iranian officials on December 13 in Tehran to supply the Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system called the Ababil, developed by the government-run Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) in Iran.
The Reuters article also highlights that, according to various confidential sources, Russian personnel have visited Iran to learn how to operate the Fath-360 system, which launches missiles with a maximum range of 120 km and a warhead weight of 150 kg. One of the sources claims that “the next possible step after training could be the actual delivery of missiles to Russia.”
Reuters notes that the delivery of the Fath-360 would allow Russia to use its arsenal for targets beyond the front lines, while the Iranian missiles would be used for short-range targets. A US National Security Council spokesman said the US, its NATO allies and G7 partners “stand ready to respond swiftly and forcefully if Iran decides to move forward with such a delivery.”
According to Reuters, the Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York said the Islamic Republic had formed a long-term strategic partnership with Russia in various fields, including military cooperation. The statement also stressed: “From an ethical point of view, Iran refrains from transferring any weapons, including missiles, that could be used in the conflict with Ukraine until its conclusion.”
Reuters notes that the White House has declined to confirm reports that Iran is training Russian forces to use the Fath-360 system or preparing to send the weapon to Russia for use against Ukraine. Two intelligence sources contacted by the author did not provide a timeline for the expected delivery of the Fath-360 missiles to Russia, but said it would happen soon.
Reuters also cited a third European intelligence source as confirming that Russia had indeed sent soldiers to Iran to train on Iranian ballistic missile systems. The source stressed that such training was standard practice for Iranian weapons supplied to Russia.
A senior Iranian official, who asked to remain anonymous, said Iran had indeed sold missiles and drones to Russia, but had not provided the Fath-360 missiles. “Iran and Russia are engaged in mutual purchases of spare parts and military equipment. How each country uses this equipment is entirely up to them,” the official added, noting that “Iran has not sold weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.”
Iran's military support for Moscow has so far largely been limited to Shahed unmanned attack drones, which carry fewer explosives and are easier to shoot down because they are slower than ballistic missiles, according to Reuters. However, the delivery of large numbers of Iranian short-range ballistic missiles to Russia could increase pressure on Ukraine's already overstretched air defense systems, said Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the London-based Russian Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI).
Reuters also reports that UN Security Council restrictions on Iran's export of some missiles, drones and other technology expired in October 2023, but the US and EU have maintained sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile program.
While it was previously reported that Russia had already received around 400 Iranian Fateh-110 missiles, Reuters sources indicated that the transfer of these missiles had not yet taken place. Ukrainian authorities have not yet reported finding any remains or debris from Iranian missiles during the war.
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