Iran to transfer Russia missiles and drones - Reuters

Iran has promised to provide Russia with short- and medium-range missiles and additional drones. Tehran and Moscow agreed to such a deal on October 6 during the visit of the Iranian leadership to the Russian Federation.

Reuters reported this with reference to two Iranian diplomats and two Iranian officials.

“The Russians had asked for more drones and those Iranian ballistic missiles with improved accuracy, particularly the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family,” said one of the Iranian diplomats, who was briefed about the trip. A Western official briefed on the matter confirmed it, saying there was an agreement in place between Iran and Russia to provide surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar.

The Iranian diplomat rejected assertions by Western officials that such transfers breach a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution.

“Where they are being used is not the seller’s issue. We do not take sides in the Ukraine crisis like the West. We want an end to the crisis through diplomatic means,” he said.

This regards hundreds of missiles that could be delivered in 2-3 batches. This was reported to Reuters by an Iranian security official.

They (Russians) wanted to buy hundreds of our missiles, even mid-range ones, but we told them that we could ship soon a few hundred of their demanded Zolfaghar and Fateh 110 short-range, surface-to-surface missiles. I cannot give you the exact time, but soon, very soon those will be shipped in two to three shipments,” he said.

Another Iranian diplomat said that Moscow had specifically asked for surface-to-surface short-range Fateh 110 and Zolfaghar missiles, and the shipment would happen in a maximum of 10 days.

An Eastern European official tracking Russia’s weapons activity said it was their understanding that this arms deal was happening, although he had no specific evidence to back it up. He said that a decision had been taken by the Iranian and Russian leaders to proceed with the transfer.

At the same time, the Iranian authorities are outraged by the introduction of sanctions against Iran due to the supply of drones. Another diplomat informed the news agency about this.

Three Iranian officials told Reuters that in September, Tehran refused to provide Russia with the Arash 2 attack drones because of fears that if they were used in Ukraine, the United States might obtain access to Iranian technology.

As previously reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will officially send a note to Israel with a request to provide air defense systems. Iran’s actions should prompt Israeli counterparts to transfer military aid to Ukraine.

In addition, Ukraine called on Iran to stop supplying weapons to the Russian Federation, as this is complicity in crimes against Ukraine.