An Iranian missile is seen during the National Army Day parade ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 17, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo
Russian Military Training in Iran for Ballistic Missile Systems
According to European intelligence sources, dozens of Russian military personnel are currently undergoing training in Iran to operate the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system. This training is reportedly a precursor to the anticipated delivery of hundreds of these satellite-guided weapons to Russia, which intends to use them in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Contract and Training Details
The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, revealed that representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Iranian officials on December 13 in Tehran. This contract includes the Fath-360 missile system and another ballistic missile system known as the Ababil, produced by the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), an entity owned by the Iranian government.
Russian military personnel have allegedly visited Iran to learn how to operate the Fath-360 system. The Fath-360 system is capable of launching missiles with a maximum range of 120 kilometers (75 miles) and carrying a warhead weighing 150 kilograms. One source indicated that the logical next step after training would be the actual delivery of these missiles to Russia.
Implications for Russian Military Capabilities
Although Russia possesses its own arsenal of ballistic missiles, the acquisition of the Fath-360 system could allow Russia to allocate more of its existing arsenal to targets beyond the front line while employing Iranian-manufactured missiles for closer-range engagements. This development has raised concerns among military experts, who see it as a potential escalation in the conflict.
International Reactions
A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council stated that the United States, along with its NATO allies and G7 partners, is prepared to respond swiftly and decisively should Iran proceed with the transfer of these weapons to Russia. The spokesperson emphasized that such an action would signify a significant escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. The White House has consistently warned of the growing security partnership between Russia and Iran since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Iranian and Russian Responses
In response to inquiries, the Russian Ministry of Defense did not provide any comment. Meanwhile, Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations issued a statement highlighting the long-term strategic partnership between Iran and Russia, including in military cooperation. However, the statement asserted that, from an ethical standpoint, Iran refrains from transferring weapons that could be used in the conflict in Ukraine until it concludes.
Unconfirmed Delivery Timelines and Additional Contracts
The two European intelligence sources did not specify an exact timeframe for the delivery of the Fath-360 missiles to Russia, although they indicated it would occur soon. Additionally, there was no information provided on the status of the Ababil missile contract.
A third intelligence source from another European agency corroborated the information about Russian military personnel being trained in Iran on the use of Iranian ballistic missile systems. This source noted that such training is standard practice when Iranian weapons are supplied to Russia.
Statements from Iranian Officials
A senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Iran has sold missiles and drones to Russia but denied providing Fath-360 missiles. The official also noted that there is no legal prohibition preventing Tehran from selling such weapons to Russia, and that both nations engage in the mutual purchase of military equipment. The official emphasized that how each country uses this equipment is their own decision and asserted that Iran does not sell weapons specifically for use in the Ukraine conflict. As part of ongoing military cooperation, Iranian and Russian officials frequently travel between the two countries.
Strategic Implications
Iran’s military support to Moscow has primarily been limited to the provision of unmanned Shahed attack drones, which are slower and carry smaller payloads compared to ballistic missiles. However, the delivery of large quantities of short-range ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would increase pressure on Ukraine’s missile defense systems, which are already strained.
Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Air Power at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a London-based defense think tank, noted that such missiles could only be reliably intercepted by the most sophisticated air defense systems available to Ukraine, such as the U.S.-made Patriot and European SAMP/T systems.
Concerns Over Escalation
The spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council remarked that destabilizing actions like these contradict the rhetoric of Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has claimed a desire to moderate Iran’s policies and engage with the global community.
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