Iran promises to send ground-based missiles and more drones to Russia

Iran has promised to Russia ground-based missiles, as well as more drones, two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats told Reuters, a move likely to anger the United States and other Western powers.

The agreement was reached on October 6, when Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammed Mokhber, Two high-ranking officials from Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council visited Moscow for talks with Russia on handing over the weapons.

REVIEW HERE | Ukrainian authorities ask the population not to try to shoot down drones and accuse Iran

“The Russians had asked for more drones and the most accurate Iranian ballistic missiles, in particular the Fateh and Zolfaghar family of missiles,” said one of the Iranian diplomats, who was briefed on the trip.

A Western official briefed on the matter confirmed this, saying there was an agreement in place between Iran and Russia to provide short-range surface ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar.

The Iranian diplomat rejected claims by Western officials that the transfers breach a 2015 UN Security Council resolution.

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

SEE ALSO | A 50-meter section of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline was destroyed after explosions

Ukraine has denounced a series of Russian attacks with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin on Tuesday denied that its forces used them to attack Ukraine.

Asked if Russia had used Iranian drones in its campaign in Ukraine, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, he said the Kremlin had no information about its use.

“Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature is used”, said. “All other questions should be directed to the Defense Ministry.”

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The appearance of Iranian missiles in addition to drones in Moscow’s arsenal in the war with Ukraine would increase tension between Iran and the United States and with other Western powers.

KNOW MORE | Russian fighter-bomber that crashed into a Russian residential building is an advanced Sukhoi Su-34

The US State Department has concluded that Iranian drones were used in a morning rush hour attack on the Ukrainian capital kyiv on Monday, a US official said.

White House spokeswoman Karinne Jean-Pierre also accused Tehran of lying by claiming that Russia is not using Iranian drones in Ukraine.

A European diplomat said his country’s assessment was that Russia was finding it more difficult to produce weapons itself, given the sanctions imposed on its industrial sector, so it was turning to imports from partners such as Iran and North Korea. .

“Drones and missiles are the next logical step,” he added.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.