Iran to supply Russia with hundreds of missiles
Dozen of Russian military personnel are reportedly training in Iran to handle a ballistic missile system. In the next step, hundreds of these satellite-guided weapons are expected to be delivered to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, according to sources. The US is said to be preparing a swift and stern response.
Iran is reportedly set to supply Russia with hundreds of ballistic missiles in the near future, according to European intelligence sources. Dozens of Russian military personnel are currently being trained in Iran to operate the Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile system, two employees of European intelligence agencies told Reuters news agency. The sources, citing confidential intelligence reports, said that Russian personnel had visited Iran to learn how to operate the system, which can fire rockets with a maximum range of 120 km and a 150 kg warhead. One of the sources said that the "likely next step" after the training would be the actual delivery of the missiles to Russia.
Moscow already possesses its own ballistic missiles, but the delivery of Fath-360 could allow Russia to use a larger portion of its arsenal for targets far from the frontline. Iranian warheads could then be used for targets with shorter ranges.
A spokesperson for the US National Security Council said that the US government and its NATO allies and G7 partners are "prepared for a swift and stern response if Iran moves forward with such transfers." "This would represent a significant escalation of Iran's support for Russia's war against Ukraine," the spokesperson said. "The White House has repeatedly warned about the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine."
The European Union expresses concern over the potential transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia, as it could exacerbate the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Due to these developments, the European Union is considering implementing sanctions against both Iran and Russia, aiming to deter further escalation and uphold international peace and security.
