Wall Street Journal: Islamic Republic Prepares to Send Short-Range Missiles to Russia

U.S. officials warned on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is preparing to send advanced short-range missiles to Russia. This news was reported in an exclusive article by the Wall Street Journal. The report states that the Islamic Republic has previously provided Russia with other weapons such as drones, guided bombs, and artillery shells to assist in its invasion of Ukraine. U.S. concerns about the expanding military cooperation between the two countries increased when Iranian officials showcased the Ababil and Fateh-110 missiles to Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister, during his visit to Tehran in September. A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council stated, 'We are concerned that Iran is considering providing ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.' According to the report, the Russian embassy in Washington and the Iranian representative at the United Nations did not immediately respond to the Wall Street Journal's request for comment. The Wall Street Journal noted that the U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said that Russia is helping Iran improve its satellite intelligence-gathering capabilities and is assisting Tehran in missiles, air defense, and military electronics. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced the Kremlin to seek new arms suppliers. According to U.S. and South Korean officials, North Korea is among the countries that have supplied artillery shells to Moscow. Some reports have previously indicated that Russia did not expect a prolonged war with Ukraine and faced shortages in its weapons production chain. In justification of sending weapons to Russia, Iranian media had repeatedly stated months ago that Iran would receive Sukhoi-35 aircraft from Russia. However, long after the announced dates in those reports, Iran has yet to receive these aircraft. In addition to still awaiting the Sukhoi-35s, the Islamic Republic is seeking to purchase attack helicopters from Russia. Iran's military air fleet is severely outdated, with the American F-14s purchased by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi still being one of its symbols. Exclusive| U.S.: We are examining the impact of sanctions on Iran's drone exports to Russia. The U.S. has sanctioned 20 individuals and entities linked to Iran's missile and drone programs. Exclusive; former CENTCOM commander: 'Great force and power' will compel the Islamic Republic to retreat. The Islamic Republic accused Israel of attempting to 'sabotage' its missile program.