Iran could hand over hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia for war against Ukraine, Reuters says

Iran may transfer hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia for war against Ukraine, – Reuters Sofia Rozhik

Iran to Transfer Hundreds of Ballistic Missiles to Russia/Collage 24 Channel

Russia is awaiting the delivery of Fath-360 ballistic missiles from Iran. The media has learned from at least three intelligence sources that dozens of Russian military personnel are currently training in Iran to use this system.

Likely Russia and Iran signed the corresponding contract on December 13, 2023. The Fath-360 system launches missiles with a maximum range of 120 kilometers and a warhead weighing 150 kilograms.

Iran says it did not transfer weapons to Russia for war against Ukraine

One intelligence source told Reuters that the “only next possible” step after Russian training in Iran would be to actually deliver the missiles to Russia. Reuters intelligence sources noted that the delivery could be made soon.

Moscow has its own ballistic missiles, but the delivery of the Fath-360 could allow Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets behind the front lines, while using Iranian warheads for targets at closer range, the newspaper writes.

At the same time, the United States said that it was “ready to give a swift and stern response if Iran moves forward with such transfers.”

“This would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for Russia's war against Ukraine. The White House has repeatedly warned of a deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” they said.

At the same time, the White House did not confirm whether Iran was indeed planning to transfer the missiles to Russia. The aggressor country's Defense Ministry also did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.

And one of Iran's high-ranking officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said that his country sold missiles and drones to Russia, but there were no Fath-360 missiles among them. At the same time, he assured that the Iranians did not sell weapons to the Russians for use in the war against Ukraine.

Until now, Iran's military support for Moscow has been limited mainly to unmanned Shahed attack drones, which carry a small amount of explosives and are easier to shoot down because they are slower than ballistic missiles, Reuters noted.

The publication also added that newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian “claimed that he wants to soften Iran's policies and cooperate with the world” and that “such destabilizing actions contradict this rhetoric.”