Iran's missile supply to Russia raises stakes in Ukraine
New Iranian rockets available to Russia could drastically change the situation on the frontline, writes the Business Insider portal. "Russia's new Iranian missiles could make the front lines in Ukraine far more dangerous," it notes.
The United States has confirmed that Iran has handed over short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, Fath-360. With these Iranian ballistic missiles, Russia gains flexibility, which presents a significant challenge for Ukraine, experts quoted by the portal suggest. They explain that the Russians can target Ukrainian frontline positions with inexpensive Iranian weapons while saving their more costly weapons for other targets deeper within the country.
The delivery of cheaper Iranian missiles presents new options for Russia. "Russia's focus is probably going to be on using those to do sort of the short tactical battlefield targets," said Timothy Wright, an expert in missile technology at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in conversation with Business Insider.
- Iranian rockets "allow Russia to put even more pressure on front-line targets," adds Fabian Hoffmann from the Oslo Nuclear Project.
Iran supplies ballistic missiles to Russia
The US Treasury Department announced back in September that the Russian Ministry of Defence "used the Port Olya 3 ship to transport ballistic missiles from Iran".
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated during his visit to London that the US believes Russia received a batch of Fath-360 ballistic missiles from Iran, which it may use for attacks in Ukraine in the coming weeks.
CNN previously reported that negotiations between Russia and Iran began in September last year. These discussions reportedly occurred when then-Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu went to Iran to examine the short-range Ababil rockets.
The American television network added that US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to discuss Iranian weapons shipments to Russia on Friday.
