Iran Is Preparing To Send Additional Weapons Including Ballistic Missiles To Russia For Use In Ukraine Western Officials Say

  Iran is preparing to send about 1,000 additional weapons, including short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and more attack drones, to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, officials from a Western country that closely monitors its weapons program told CNN. Iran.   

  The mission is being closely watched because it would be the first time Iran has sent advanced precision-guided missiles to Russia, which could give the Kremlin a significant boost on the battlefield.   

  Iran’s latest arms shipment to Russia included about 450 drones, officials said, which the Russians have already used to deadly effect in Ukraine.  Ukrainian officials said last week they had shot down more than 300 Iranian drones.   

  This new expected mission will mark a significant increase in Iranian support for Russia’s war effort.  While the exact timing of when the shipment will arrive in Russia is unclear, officials believe the weapons will definitely be delivered before the end of the year.   

  Drones have played a major role in the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, but their use has increased since the summer, when the United States and Kyiv said Moscow had acquired drones from Iran .  In recent weeks these Iranian drones have been used to target critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine.   

  Iranian drones are known as “roving munitions” because they are capable of circling for a period of time in an area identified as a potential target and striking only when an enemy advantage is identified.   

  They are small, portable and can be launched easily, but their main advantage is that they are difficult to detect and can be launched from a distance.   

  The US has also claimed that Iran has sent military personnel to Crimea to assist Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian targets.   

  Sending further Iranian weapons to Russia is a move that will likely cause further deterioration in relations with the US.  On Monday, US Iran envoy Rob Malley said the Biden administration was not going to “waste our time” in talks to revive the nuclear deal “if nothing is going to happen”.  Tehran’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war and the crackdown on nationwide protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September prompted the US to impose further sanctions on Iran.   

  Earlier this month, John Kirby, the communications coordinator at the National Security Council, said the presence of Iranian personnel was evidence of Tehran’s direct involvement in the conflict.   

  “We can confirm that Russian military personnel based in Crimea are piloting Iranian UAVs, using them to conduct raids across Ukraine, including strikes against Kiev,” Kirby said, referring to the unmanned aerial vehicles.   

  Malley spoke strongly against Iran supplying the drones on Monday.   

  “We know that these drones have been used to target civilians and civilian infrastructure.  And we know that Iran, in the face of all this evidence, continues to lie and deny that it’s happening,” Malley said.   

  On Monday, a senior US defense official said they had no information to provide on the suggestion that Iran was preparing to send missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.   

  Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment on the new expected mission.  Iran has previously denied supplying Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, saying it “has not and will not”.   

  The Washington Post was the first to report Iran’s plans to send missiles and additional drones to Russia.   

  The US is “looking at everything we can do, not just sanctions” to prevent Iranian weaponry from going to Russia, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said last week.  He said the US was “trying to dismantle these networks”.   

  But it is unclear whether the US will be able to ban further shipments from going forward, even as concerns grow about the Iranians sending even more advanced weapons to Russia.   

  US officials also said they were aware of discussions about additional Iranian weapons in Russia that have not yet been delivered.   

  Last month the US imposed sanctions on an airline provider for its involvement in sending Iranian drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), to Russia.  The U.S. is also prepared to “target producers and suppliers” that contribute to the UAV program, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said.   

  The question of longevity and sustainability remains because it is unclear how long Iran can or will continue to supply weapons – including more advanced missiles – to Russia.   

title: “Iran Is Preparing To Send Additional Weapons Including Ballistic Missiles To Russia For Use In Ukraine Western Officials Say " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-05” author: “Ramon Smith”

  Iran is preparing to send about 1,000 additional weapons, including short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and more attack drones, to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, officials from a Western country that closely monitors the weapons program told CNN of Iran.   

  The mission is being closely watched because it would be the first time Iran has sent advanced precision-guided missiles to Russia, which could give the Kremlin a significant boost on the battlefield.   

  Iran’s latest arms shipment to Russia included about 450 drones, officials said, which the Russians have already used to deadly effect in Ukraine.  Ukrainian officials said last week they had shot down more than 300 Iranian drones.   

  This new expected mission will mark a significant increase in Iranian support for Russia’s war effort.  While the exact timing of when the shipment will arrive in Russia is unclear, officials believe the weapons will definitely be delivered before the end of the year.   

  Drones have played a major role in the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, but their use has increased since the summer, when the United States and Kyiv said Moscow had acquired drones from Iran .  In recent weeks these Iranian drones have been used to target critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine.   

  Iranian drones are known as “roving munitions” because they are capable of circling for a period of time in an area identified as a potential target and striking only when an enemy advantage is identified.   

  They are small, portable and can be launched easily, but their main advantage is that they are difficult to detect and can be launched from a distance.   

  The US has also claimed that Iran has sent military personnel to Crimea to assist Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian targets.   

  Sending further Iranian weapons to Russia is a move that will likely cause further deterioration in relations with the US.  On Monday, US Iran envoy Rob Malley said the Biden administration was not going to “waste our time” in talks to revive the nuclear deal “if nothing is going to happen”.  Tehran’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war and the crackdown on nationwide protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September prompted the US to impose further sanctions on Iran.   

  Earlier this month, John Kirby, the communications coordinator at the National Security Council, said the presence of Iranian personnel was evidence of Tehran’s direct involvement in the conflict.   

  “We can confirm that Russian military personnel based in Crimea are piloting Iranian UAVs, using them to conduct raids across Ukraine, including strikes against Kiev,” Kirby said, referring to the unmanned aerial vehicles.   

  Malley spoke strongly against Iran supplying the drones on Monday.   

  “We know that these drones have been used to target civilians and civilian infrastructure.  And we know that Iran, in the face of all this evidence, continues to lie and deny that it’s happening,” Malley said.   

  On Monday, a senior US defense official said they had no information to provide on the suggestion that Iran was preparing to send missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.   

  Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment on the new expected mission.  Iran has previously denied supplying Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, saying it “has not and will not”.   

  The Washington Post was the first to report Iran’s plans to send missiles and additional drones to Russia.   

  The US is “looking at everything we can do, not just sanctions” to prevent Iranian weaponry from going to Russia, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said last week.  He said the US was “trying to dismantle these networks”.   

  But it is unclear whether the US will be able to ban further shipments from going forward, even as concerns grow about the Iranians sending even more advanced weapons to Russia.   

  US officials also said they were aware of discussions about additional Iranian weapons in Russia that have not yet been delivered.   

  Last month the US imposed sanctions on an airline provider for its involvement in sending Iranian drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), to Russia.  The U.S. is also prepared to “target producers and suppliers” that contribute to the UAV program, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said.   

  The question of longevity and sustainability remains because it is unclear how long Iran can or will continue to supply weapons – including more advanced missiles – to Russia.