August 6, 2024 | Flash Brief
Russia Reportedly Delivers Air Defense, Radar Equipment to Iran
August 6, 2024 | Flash Brief
Russia Reportedly Delivers Air Defense, Radar Equipment to Iran
Latest Developments
Citing two unnamed Iranian officials, The New York Times reported on August 6 that Russia has started to deliver radars and air defense equipment to Iran ahead of a possible war with Israel. On July 31, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a direct strike on Israel to avenge the assassination in Tehran of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, stoking fears of a wider war in the Middle East. On August 5, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, arrived in Tehran to meet with senior regime officials as the Islamic Republic weighs attack plans. Shoigu told Iranian state media that Moscow is “ready for full cooperation with Iran on regional issues,” while Iranian commander Mohammad Bagheri — who was part of the Iranian delegation that welcomed Shoigu — noted the “deep, long term and strategic” relationship between Russia and Iran.
Expert Analysis
“These Iranian claims should be taken with a grain of salt. If true, the provision of additional Russian air defense equipment could complicate potential future Israeli or U.S. military action against Iran. However, it remains unclear what type and number of systems Moscow might provide and whether potential deliveries and training for Iranian personnel could be completed in time for relevance to the current crisis.” — John Hardie, Deputy Director of FDD’s Russia Program
“Iran’s existing array of domestically produced and foreign procured air and missile defense systems were punctured this April during a reported Israeli strike on a Russian S-300 radar. Nonetheless, an increase in the quality and quantity of these platforms in Iran by Russia is designed to complicate any future use of military force against Tehran, be it for counterproliferation or deterrence by punishment purposes.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD Senior Fellow
Russia-Iran Military Cooperation
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Tehran has provided thousands of drones to Moscow while seeking advanced military equipment in return. Russia and Iran are also sharing intelligence and harassing American forces in Syria as part of a joint effort to drive the United States out of the region. In April, Shoigu, who was then serving as Russian defense minister, and his Iranian counterpart discussed enhanced security ties during a meeting in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Shoigu reportedly highlighted a significant increase in military contracts between Tehran and Moscow during the meeting. The defense ministers’ meeting followed an April 17 revelation of secret Russian government documents envisioning greater coordination with Iran, China, and North Korea to reshape the U.S.-led world order.
Israel Braces for Attack as the West Scrambles to De-escalate
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Israeli troops at an Arrow air defense site in Israel on July 31 in the wake of Haniyeh’s killing. “We don’t want war, but we are preparing for all possibilities,” he said. Gallant noted that the Arrow system, which is the top tier of Israel’s multi-layered air defense array, has played a key role in intercepting threats from Yemen as well as the more than 300 projectiles that Iran fired toward Israel overnight between April 13-14. On August 5, an Israeli broadcaster reported that the Israel Defense Forces dispatched several infantry companies over the weekend to protect civilian communities in the Sharon region, along the West Bank boundary, based on intelligence reports that the communities could come under imminent attack by Iran’s Palestinian proxies in the area. The IDF did not immediately comment on the report.
Meanwhile, on August 4, the G7 foreign ministers held a conference call to convey the need for Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel to exercise maximum restraint in the wake of Haniyeh’s assassination. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the G7’s chair, read a statement on behalf of the group expressing concern that the escalation involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel could lead to a regional crisis. “We call on the parties concerned to desist from any initiative that could hinder the path of dialogue and moderation and encourage a new escalation,” Tajani said.
Related Analysis
“Head of Russian Security Council Arrives in Iran,” FDD Flash Brief
“Congress Seeks Answers on U.S. Failure to Sanction Iran-Russia Nuclear Cooperation,” FDD Flash Brief
“The Despotic Duo,” by Behnam Ben Taleblu