Blinken Confirms Iranian Ballistic Missile Transfers to Russia

Latest Developments

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on September 10 that the Islamic Republic of Iran is supplying Russia with Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken stated that “Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine against Ukrainians.” He added that the missiles have “a maximum range of 75 miles” and will allow “Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line, while dedicating new missiles it’s receiving from Iran for closer-range targets.”

The United States and its partners have long warned about Iran’s supply of drones to Russia, but Blinken’s remarks are the first public acknowledgment of Iranian missile transfers. Lammy said the supply of ballistic missiles is “definitely a significant escalation” from Tehran. Subsequently, the United States and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement with Germany warning that the missile shipments pose “a direct threat to European security” and announcing their intent to impose further sanctions on the Islamic Republic, including on Iran’s state airline, Iran Air.

Expert Analysis

“If ever there was a time to snap back UN sanctions on Iran, it would be now. A permissive international environment allows Iran to expand its drone and missile proliferation networks. A comprehensive strategy to target both the supply and demand side of Iran’s destabilizing weapons transfers is desperately needed.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD Senior Fellow

“These Iranian missiles will expand Russian precision-strike capacity at depths of up to 75 miles and could also free up Russian Iskander missiles for strikes against deeper targets. Of course, it remains to be seen whether these Iranian missiles will perform well in Ukraine or will fall flat like the North Korean KN-23. Regardless, this deal is all the more reason to provide Kyiv with more air defense systems to down these missiles and the drones that scout targets for them. It’s also long past time for Washington and its allies to allow Ukraine to use its Western missiles for strikes inside Russia.” — John Hardie, Deputy Director of FDD’s Russia Program

Previous Reports on Iranian Missile Shipments

Citing two European intelligence sources, Reuters reported on August 9 that Iran was preparing to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine. At the time, dozens of Russian military personnel were in Iran for training on the use of the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, according to the sources. Reuters also said that Tehran intended to provide Moscow with another close-range ballistic missile system, known as the Ababil.

On September 6, The Wall Street Journal reported that the missiles had arrived in Russia, citing unnamed U.S. officials. Iran denied the reports from U.S. officials, with Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nasser Kanaani telling the state-affiliated Islamic Republic News Agency that the claims “are completely baseless.” However, less than 24 hours later, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee acknowledged that Iran had transferred ballistic missiles to Russia.

Russia and Iran Draw Closer Together

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Tehran has provided Moscow with thousands of drones while seeking advanced military equipment in return. Russia and Iran have also coordinated to harass American forces in Syria. Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria over 170 times as part of a joint effort to drive the United States out of the region. Military ties between Russia and Iran have grown closer in recent years, marked by visits between Iranian and Russian defense officials and the signing of security cooperation agreements.

Related Analysis

“The Despotic Duo,” by Behnam Ben Taleblu

“Let Ukraine Defeat the Russia-Iranian War Machine,” by Richard Goldberg and Rebeccah Heinrichs

“Iran Reportedly Will Send Hundreds of Ballistic Missiles to Russia,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Has Already Sent Missiles to Russia, Report Says,” FDD Flash Brief

“Russia and Iran Agree to Deepen Security Ties,” FDD Flash Brief