top of page
Writer's pictureBy The Financial District

Iran Withheld Launchers For Missiles Sent To Russia

Iran did not include mobile launchers with the short-range ballistic missiles that Washington last week accused Tehran of delivering to Russia for use against Ukraine, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter, Jonathan Landay, Phil Stewart, and Anthony Deutsch reported for Reuters.


It was unclear why Iran did not supply launchers with the Fath-360 missiles, raising questions about when and if the weapons will be operational. I Photo: Fars Media Corporation



The sources—a European diplomat, a European intelligence official, and a US official—said it was unclear why Iran did not supply launchers with the Fath-360 missiles, raising questions about when and if the weapons will be operational.


The US official, who, like the other sources, spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran had not delivered the launchers at the time of the US announcement about Iran's delivery of the weapons.



The European intelligence official said, without elaborating, that they did not expect Iran to provide launchers.


Two experts told Reuters there could be several reasons why the launchers were not sent. One possibility is that Russia may plan to modify trucks to carry the missiles, as Iran has done.



Another is that by withholding the launchers, Iran is leaving space for new talks with Western powers on easing tensions.


Tehran denies providing Moscow with the missiles or with the thousands of drones that Kyiv and Western officials say Russia uses against military targets and to destroy civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s electrical grid, Jonathan Saul and Guy Faulconbridge also reported for Reuters.




Comments


bottom of page