Reuters: Iran to send hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia

Dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to operate the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, according to two European intelligence sources.

The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, revealed that the training is part of a broader agreement, with the delivery of hundreds of these satellite-guided weapons to Russia expected soon, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

The Fath-360 system, developed by Iran's state-owned Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), is designed to launch missiles with a maximum range of 120 kilometers (75 miles) and a warhead capacity of 150 kilograms. This advanced missile system could bolster Russia's arsenal, allowing it to deploy its own ballistic missiles for long-range targets while using Iranian-supplied Fath-360s for closer engagements in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The intelligence officials disclosed that representatives from Russia's defense ministry signed a contract with Iranian officials on December 13 in Tehran, covering the acquisition of the Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system known as Ababil.

A military expert cited by the sources suggested that the training of Russian personnel in Iran signals an impending delivery of these missile systems to Russia. "The only next possible step after training would be actual delivery of the missiles," one source stated.

While Moscow has yet to comment on these reports, Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York emphasized the longstanding strategic partnership between Iran and Russia, including in military cooperation. However, the mission noted that "from an ethical standpoint, Iran refrains from transferring any weapons, including missiles, that could potentially be used in the conflict with Ukraine until it is over."