Russia helps Iran sharpen its sword

Russia is shipping explosives and other military goods to help Iran replenish arsenals depleted in fighting with the United States and Israel, according to an August 17 report by NBC News. If accurate, this adds to the growing list of Russian aid provided to the Islamic Republic, which this week threatened to launch coercive “offensive” strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and across the region.

The Russians are supplying TNT explosive material as well as unspecified “ammunition” and “drone components” to Iran via the Caspian Sea, NBC News reported. It cited “a European government document” that was “verified by a Western official” and was “based on information as of last month.” The outlet provided no further specifics regarding the goods involved.

According to the report, Russia has delivered the cargo to Amirabad port in northern Iran using more than two dozen vessels owned by Russian company MG-FLOT. The firm, which was previously known as Transmorflot, is based in Russia’s Dagestan region and is under Western sanctions.

Since 2022, MG-FLOT has accumulated a long record of transporting arms between the two authoritarian powers, initially to supply Russia with Iranian weapons. These included Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 long-range one-way attack (OWA) drones and, later, close-range ballistic missiles (though there is no public evidence that Russia has ever actually employed the latter in Ukraine).

More recently, the Russians have been returning the favor.

According to Western officials, Moscow has provided Tehran with guidance on drone employment and electronic warfare, informed by Russia’s experience in Ukraine. Russia has also supplied intelligence to help Iran track and target US forces. During the war that began in February, Iran has struck expensive radars, communications equipment, and aircraft, and 18 American service members have lost their lives.

In addition, Moscow reportedly has been sending Tehran drone components and possibly entire Shahed-type OWA drones, upgraded versions of which the Russians now produce under an Iranian license. These components likely include “Kometa”-series controlled reception pattern antennas, or CRPAs, which bolster resistance to jamming of satellite navigation. According to Reuters, Western intelligence analysts suspect Iran used “Russian-enhanced” Shaheds to strike the CIA station in Riyadh in March.

Furthermore, Bloomberg recently reported that unnamed Western allies believe Iran may have received unspecified Russian missiles produced within the last year. This could be related to a contract for “Verba” man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), reportedly struck following the June 2025 Israel-Iran war. The deal reportedly called for Russia to supply 500 launchers, each equipped with “Mowgli-2” thermal imaging sights, along with 2,500 9M336 missiles by 2029.

Separately, Reuters reported last month that Iran would soon receive an initial shipment of QW-12 and FN-16 MANPADS from China, with a total of 300 to 400 ordered. Tehran is seeking to rebuild air defenses decimated by Israel and the United States, though so far there is no public evidence that Moscow or Beijing intends to supply more sophisticated, longer-range surface-to-air missile systems.

In 2022, Washington released intelligence indicating Russia planned to transfer Su-35 fighter jets to Tehran and had begun training Iranian pilots on the aircraft. But the deal has yet to come to fruition, and its prospects are unclear.

This week’s NBC News report marks the first time in recent years that Moscow has been accused of providing explosives to Tehran. The Iranians can use the Russian-supplied TNT along with other chemical agents to fill warheads for ballistic missiles and OWA drones, helping to replace munitions expended or destroyed during fighting with the United States and Israel. Iran is also believed to have obtained chemical precursors from China for producing solid rocket fuel in both 2025 and 2026.

Russia’s aid to Iran costs the Kremlin little, and Moscow surely relishes the chance to gain some deadly payback against Washington for its support for Ukraine. In addition, the Gulf conflict has raised prices for Russian oil and other commodity exports, reducing the hole in the Kremlin’s budget. It has also drained US stocks of key munitions, including Patriot air defense missiles desperately needed by Kyiv.

Russia has an interest in keeping the United States bogged down in the Middle East as long as possible. As the Islamic Republic races to rearm for future rounds of fighting, Moscow will undoubtedly continue helping Tehran sharpen its sword.

John Hardie is the deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program and a contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal.