A suspected Russian vessel, believed to be transporting Iranian ballistic missiles, was spotted at a Caspian Sea port.
The vessel, known as the Port Olya 3, was spotted by Maxar Technologies in satellite images captured on September 4 at Port Olya in Astrakhan. Prior to this, it was documented in the Iranian port of Amirabad on August 29, based on ship tracking data. At some point afterwards, the vessel turned off its transponder.
The United States Department of the Treasury declared on Tuesday that the Russian Ministry of Defense had utilized the Port Olya-3 to transport CRBMs (close-range ballistic missiles) from Iran to Russia.
According to the Treasury Department's announcement, which also imposed sanctions on the Port Olya 3 as well as other vessels and several Iranian individuals, "As of early September 2024, Russia received the first shipment of CBRMs (close-range ballistic missiles) from Iran."
As reported by CNN last weekend, Iran had delivered short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to be used in the conflict against Ukraine, marking a significant uptick in Iran's support for Russia.
The military relationship between Iran and Russia has strengthened since the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. Iran has provided Russia with thousands of "Shahed" attack drones, and according to US officials, has even constructed a drone factory within Russia.
The satellite images surfaced the day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in London on Tuesday that the United States believed the Russian military had received shipments of Iranian Fatah-360 ballistic missiles and "will likely use them within weeks against Ukrainians."
The Fateh-360 has a maximum range of 75 miles (120 kilometers) and can carry a payload of 330 pounds (150 kilograms). Although the payload is smaller than many Russian aerial bombs, it would be beneficial in attacking Ukrainian frontline positions from a significant distance, and as a ballistic missile, would be much more challenging to intercept.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has assessed that "Russian forces will likely use the Iranian-supplied missiles to target Ukrainian energy, military, and civilian infrastructure in the coming months."
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi denied that the Islamic Republic had supplied ballistic missiles to Russia, claiming on Twitter, "Once again, US and E3 (UK, France and Germany) act on faulty intelligence and flawed logic. Iran has NOT delivered ballistic missiles to Russia. Period."
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires, Shahriar Amouzegar, this week in response to reports of ballistic missiles being sent to Russia. Amouzegar was warned of "devastating and irreparable consequences" for Ukrainian-Iranian relations if the reports were true.
Ukrainian officials contacted by CNN declined additional comment on the matter.
The ISW – a Washington-based think-tank - pointed out that Iran has previously transported weapons from the ports of Amirabad and Anzali on the Caspian Sea to Astrakhan. The Port Olya 3 has made a dozen documented visits to the two Iranian ports this year. By September 6, it had set sail for another journey.
Blinken noted on Tuesday that the United States had "warned Iran privately that taking this step would constitute a dramatic escalation."
He stated that dozens of Russian military personnel had been trained in Iran to use the Fateh-360, and the supply of which "enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line, while dedicating the new missiles it's receiving from Iran for closer range targets."
CNN had been informed by US officials that Russian negotiations to acquire the close-range ballistic missiles from Iran commenced as early as last September, when then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Iran to view the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Ababil close-range ballistic missile systems.
"For its part, Russia is sharing technology that Iran seeks. This is a two-way street, including on nuclear issues, as well as some space information," Blinken added on Tuesday.
It remains unclear whether Iran's delivery of ballistic missiles capable of being launched from within Russia against targets in Ukraine will persuade the United States and European allies to loosen the constraints on Ukraine's use of its missiles against more targets in Russia.
US-made HIMARS missiles have occasionally been utilized by Ukraine against targets located some 60 to 80 kilometers within Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly appealed to his allies for greater leeway in deploying Western missiles against targets within Russia.
This topic is expected to be discussed during the meeting in Washington on Friday between US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Victoria Butenko, Natasha Bertrand and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expresses concern about the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, particularly the alleged transfer of close-range ballistic missiles from Iran to Europe, specifically Russia.
Despite Russia's denial, satellite evidence and international reports suggest that Iranian missiles are being deployed in Europe, potentially posing a threat to European stability.
