Iran has agreed to provide Russia with more surface-to-surface missiles and drones to counter Ukraine, two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats told foreign media.
According to a Reuters report, the deal between the two states was finalized on 6 October when Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, two senior Revolutionary Guards officials, and an official from the Supreme National Security Council visited Moscow for dialogues with Russia.
As per an Iranian diplomat, “The Russians had asked for more drones and Iranian ballistic missiles with improved accuracy, particularly from the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family.”
Iran has promised to supply Shahed-136 air-to-surface missiles, Fateh-110, and Zolfaghar short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
Earlier, Zelensky claimed Russia was using the Shahed-136 missile in its recent strikes on Ukraine’s power plants that killed at least six, which Iran denies.
While rejecting the United States’ allegation of breaching the 2015 United Nations Security Council resolution, the diplomat stated, “Where they are being used is not the seller’s issue. We do not take sides in the Ukraine crisis like the West. We want an end to the crisis through diplomatic means.”
Meanwhile, according to reports released by Turkish media, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) are expected to be in Ukraine to help Russia use its drones against Ukraine.
The New York Times also reported the presence of at least 50 Iranian IRGC trainers in the Crimean peninsula.
However, according to Ukrainian military officials, “Iranian teams are being hunted down.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday stated, “The very fact of Russia’s appeal to Iran for such assistance is the Kremlin’s recognition of its military and political bankruptcy.”
