Iran’s Missile Deal with Russia
Iran reveals its first hypersonic missile the Fattah-1 in a ceremony June 2023 (Wikimedia Commons)
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia on September 10, 2024 at a strategic dialogue meeting in London. These missiles, as Blinken mentioned, represent a “dramatic escalation” of Russia’s 30-month long war against Ukraine.
On February 24, 2022, Vladmir Putin launched a “special military operation” into Ukraine mentioning a campaign of “demilitarization” and “denazification” operating under claims that neo-Nazis were persecuting the Russian minority. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, there has been little progress made with the Russian military failing to reach Kyiv and eventually withdrawing to focus on the Eastern frontier. However, if Iran did indeed supply ballistic missiles to Russia, they very much could sustain Russia longer, allowing the new missiles to be used for close-range targets and older ones for longer ranges.
"Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukrainians," Blinken said. "The supply of Iranian missiles enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line."
In exchange for aid of the Kremlin’s war effort, Blinken mentions that Russia is sharing information regarding nuclear and space programs of Iran, something that Iran seeks. However, the specifics of what Iran received are unknown at this point.
As a result of this exchange, regarded by the US, Britain, and many members of the European Union as a declaration of support for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, these powers are planning to impose sanctions on Iran.
The sanctions are targeted towards Iran Air, the flagship carrier of Iran, that repeal bilateral agreements invoked previously and restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly over Europe.
Iran has denied its supply of missiles towards Russia’s war effort stating that the US and allies are acting on “faulty intelligence” and condemning the sanctions of the West as “economic terrorism.”
These accusations could mean Ukraine seeking approval from Western allies to strike deep into Russian territory, something they have already been doing with the advance of modern drone warfare. However, while the Biden administration has approved Ukranian use of US weapons for self defense it is reluctant to allow Ukraine to attack due to a fear of escalation.
Events like these have become the centrifugal force of worsening relations between nations and the growing standoff between Russia and Iran versus the US has become clearer and clearer. Putin has stated that Western G-7 countries’ commitment to Ukraine is an effort to “inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.” While Iran’s backing of organizations deemed terrorists by the West such as the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah has angered Washington on multiple occasions. These relationships are ones that have garnered and accumulated over years of history and will be interesting to see how they develop in future years, for better or for worse.