To their already numerous problems, Ukrainians who are within 100 kilometers of Russian positions can now add Iranian ballistic missiles, which Tehran recently delivered to Moscow. Several Ukrainian media outlets cite military sources claiming that a Russian ship delivered “more than 200 Fat-360” Iranians at a Caspian Sea port on September 4. Iranian instructors will teach Russian soldiers how to use the missile at the Ashulouk firing range, 45 kilometers from the border with Kazakhstan.
In operation since 2022 and carrying a 150kg explosive payload, the Fath-360 has a range of 120 kilometres. Its satellite guidance gives it a margin of error of 30 metres. Indeed, major Ukrainian cities such as Dnipro, Odessa and Kharkiv will find themselves under threat from this new addition to the Russian terror arsenal. Moscow resumed its campaign of systematic destruction of electrical infrastructure throughout Ukraine in the spring. kyiv lacks anti-aircraft systems, such as the American Patriot or the Franco-Italian Mamba, capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.
In recent months, official sources in the United States and other Western countries have expressed alarm over an imminent delivery of Iranian missiles to Moscow in exchange for military technologies. Iran has already delivered, by September 2022, thousands of Shahed long-range attack drones (now manufactured under license in Russia), Dehlavieh anti-tank missiles and artillery ammunition. The Kremlin did not deny the delivery and stressed that Russia was developing its relations with Tehran as it saw fit, in particular in the areas “the most sensitive”.
“Spectacular climbing”
Tehran, for its part, is sending mixed signals. Iranian MP Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, confirmed to the Iranian daily on Monday, September 9, that Iran is sending mixed signals. Ham-Mihan the supply of ballistic missiles to Russia. On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani rejected the “categorically” this information. Tehran, however, continues to deny the delivery of Shahed drones to Russia, while kyiv has identified hundreds of remains, some of which were shown to the World.
The European Union said on Monday that the West has“credible information” over Iranian ballistic missile supplies to Russia, according to Peter Stano, spokesman for the European Union’s diplomatic service. In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said that Iran’s shipment of ballistic missiles to Russia would pose a major threat to the United States. “spectacular climb” of Tehran’s support for Moscow in the war in Ukraine and could have “significant consequences”. “We are incredibly alarmed by this information”he added. NATO, for its part, warned of the risk of“substantial escalation” if these deliveries are confirmed, a spokesman for the Atlantic Alliance said on Monday.
You have 15.67% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
