Russia is hesitant to buy ballistic missiles from Iran out of concern that Ukraine’s allies will supply Ukraine with long-range rockets in response, Western officials estimate. But officials admit that Moscow may yet change its position on the issue
Russia is hesitant to buy ballistic missiles from Iran out of concern that Ukraine’s allies in the West will respond by supplying the Ukrainians with long-range rockets, according to estimates from Western sources who spoke to the Financial Times.
Iran sent hundreds of armed drones to Russia that were used to attack critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The West believes that Tehran is open to further military cooperation with Moscow.
But despite pressures on its supplies, Russia has held back on purchases of Iran’s long-range ballistic missiles, which fly faster than the speed of sound and have a larger explosive charge.
One significant factor, according to estimates in NATO countries, was the US threat to supply Kiev with a sought-after missile system, the range of which could reach deep into Russian territory.
The U.S. has recently stepped up warnings about deeper military cooperation between Russia and Iran, and European diplomats have raised those concerns with Tehran. Julian Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said Western allies found the relationship “disturbing most”.
“This is a situation that obviously worries all of us very much,” added Smith. “This is a topic of conversation within the alliance. And we will continue to send signals to Iran about the dangers of supporting Russia with material support for its attacks and its war inside Ukraine.”
But officials acknowledge that Moscow may change its stance on Iranian ballistic missiles as shortages of its own precision munitions become severe and domestic production falters.
The Russian military is concerned about its ability to continue the war, a US official told the newspaper. Iran has consistently denied supplying Russia with weapons since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine last February.
Reza Garei Ashtiani, Iran’s defense minister, said that the Islamic Republic has “the right to cooperate with other countries to strengthen its power.” But the claims that Tehran sold armed drones to Russia in its war with Ukraine “have not been proven”, he told reporters. When asked about the possibility of Iran buying Russian planes, he said that this is not something new.
Tehran’s denials were not accepted in Washington. John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, warned last month that Moscow might supply Iran with modern fighter jets and other advanced equipment in exchange for artillery ammunition and tanks, without providing specific evidence. The Pentagon, meanwhile, said Russia was interested in “ballistic missile capability ” of Iran.