Iran to send launchers for short-range missiles to Russia, sources say
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File image showing remains of MLRS and artillery shells, cruise and ballistic missiles used by Russian troops for military strikes in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON/LONDON - Iran is preparing to deliver in the near future launchers for short-range ballistic missiles that the US said Tehran sent to Russia in 2024 for use against Ukraine, according to two Western security officials and a regional official.
The delivery of the Fath-360 launchers – if it occurs – would help support Russia’s grinding assault on its neighbour and reaffirm the deepening security ties between Moscow and Tehran.
With a 120km range, the Fath-360 would give Moscow’s forces a new weapon to fire at Ukrainian front-line troops, nearby military targets and population centres close to the border with Russia, analysts said.
The US in September said that Iran delivered the missiles to Russia on nine Russian-flagged ships – which it sanctioned – and three sources told Reuters at that time that the launchers were not included.
The Western security officials and the regional official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the delivery of the Fath-360 launchers was imminent.
They declined to provide further details of the pending transfer, including why they thought the launchers were not delivered with the missiles.
Russia’s Defence Ministry and Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The US National Security Council referred inquiries to the State Department, which did not respond immediately. The Central Intelligence Agency declined comment.
Russia and Iran have previously denied that Tehran had shipped the missiles or any other arms to aid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Moscow launched in February 2022. US, Ukrainian and European officials say Iran has provided Russia thousands of drones and artillery shells.
In an apparent reference to the Fath-360s, the US Army’s General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of US Central Command, in April told US lawmakers that Iran had donated more than 400 short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
There have been no public reports of Iran transferring any other kinds of short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow, or of Russian forces using the Fath-360.
Possible complication for peace talks
Russia’s deployment of the missiles could complicate US President Donald Trump’s efforts to arrange a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and to strike a separate deal with Iran to curb its nuclear programme.
The regional official said that the indirect US-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Oman are among “several reasons” for the delayed delivery of the launchers.
The talks have encountered turbulence, although Iran on May 9 said it agreed to hold a fourth round in Oman
Dr Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said that Iranian officials would consider the issue of sending arms to Russia as separate from the nuclear talks.
“That the Iranians are negotiating on nuclear issues with the US will not be seen as connected to what they might do in collaboration with the Russians,” he said.
Analysts said there could have been another complication: Iran had to modify European-made commercial lorries on which to mount the launchers for its own Fath-360 arsenal, and it may have had to do the same for Russia given its massive losses of vehicles in Ukraine.
With the launchers, Russia will be able to increase pressure on Ukraine, said the experts.
“It would be much easier (for Russian forces) to launch a strike much faster... against high-value targets,” said Mr Fabian Hinz, a research fellow with the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “They (Fath-360s) don’t need a lot of launch preparations. Their flight time is incredibly short.”
Deploying the Fath-360 could allow Russia to reserve its more advanced missiles, like the Iskander, for longer-range strikes at critical infrastructure, including the power grid, straining Ukraine’s precious missile defences, the analysts said.
The Fath-360 “is designed to be handled and operated by people with relatively little training”, said Dr Ralph Savelsberg, an associate professor at the Netherlands Defence Academy.
“Why would they (Russia) buy inferior Iranian missiles? The only reason I could think of is that they cannot produce a sufficient number of their own missiles,” he said.
“They’re not super accurate and they don’t carry a very large payload. But it just adds to Ukraine’s headaches.” REUTERS
