Iran reportedly pledged to supply Russia with surface-to-surface missiles in addition to more drones amid Moscow's continued conflict with Ukraine.
The decision was revealed by two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats in what is considered a move that is expected to draw ire from the United States and other Western nations.
Iran Missiles for Russia
The situation comes after a deal was agreed upon on Oct. 6 when Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, two senior officials from the country's Revolutionary Guards, and an official from the Supreme National Security Council, traveled to Moscow for discussions with Russian officials regarding the delivery of weapons.
One of the Iranian diplomats who was briefed about the trip said that the Russians have been requesting more drones and Iranian ballistic missiles that boasted greater accuracy, particularly the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family.
On the other hand, a Western official briefed on the matter confirmed the news, adding that there was an agreement in place between Iran and Russia to provide surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar, as per Reuters.
The Shahed-136 is one of the drones that Iran reportedly agreed to supply Russia and is a delta-winged weapon used as a "kamikaze" air-to-surface attack aircraft. It also carries a small warhead that explodes on impact to damage its surrounding area.
The Fateh-110 and the Zolfaghar are Iran's short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles that are capable of striking targets at distances between 300 kilometers and 700 kilometers. One Iranian diplomat rejected assertions by Western officials that such transfers breach a 2015 UN Security Council resolution.
According to Aljazeera, the deal comes after a new wave of deadly Russian air attacks on Ukraine that have resulted in the death of 25 people and injury of more than 100 others. Ukrainian authorities said that the latest strikes, which began on Oct. 10, have targeted at least 10 regions across the nation and used Russian missiles coupled with Iranian-made drones.
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Russia-Ukraine War Update
On Monday, a large group of explosive-laden, unmanned aircraft drones targeted Kyiv, killing at least four people and targeting energy facilities. A young couple expecting a baby in three months was among the victims of the attacks.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had destroyed at least 37 drones on Monday amid the relentless assault. However, Tehran officials initially denied supplying Russia with the weapons used in the attacks.
Aljazeera's defense analyst, Alex Gatopoulos, said that such munitions can hover above an area to identify a target before going in for the kill, using its own body to cause destruction. They are also known as "loitering" munitions due to how they behave.
Similar to cruise missiles, they are able to hit targets hundreds of kilometers away but cruise missiles are significantly more expensive than the drones. Gatopoulos noted that the kamikaze drones are a cheaper yet precise alternative.
Now, the United States intends to further crack down on Iran for helping Moscow by supplying it with munitions for its war on Ukraine. The penalties, which are likely to include economic sanctions and potentially export controls, would also target third parties that assist Tehran and Moscow, Politico reported.
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