Iran has reportedly delivered close-range ballistic missiles to Russia without including mobile launchers, according to sources familiar with the matter. This development has sparked uncertainty about when and if the weapons will become operational.
Three sources—a European diplomat, a European intelligence official, and a US official—confirmed that Iran did not supply launchers for the Fath-360 missiles. The reasons behind this decision remain unclear.
Experts suggest several possible explanations for the omission. Russia may plan to modify trucks to carry the missiles, as Iran has done in the past. Alternatively, Iran may be creating space for new talks with Western powers on easing tensions by withholding the launchers.
The US initially accused Iran of delivering the missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. Iran denies providing Moscow with the missiles or drones, which Kyiv and Western officials claim Russia uses to target military sites and civilian infrastructure.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Iran’s missile delivery poses an additional challenge for Ukraine and threatens European security. The Fath-360 has a range of up to 75 miles and travels at four times the speed of sound.
In response to the alleged missile transfer, the US, Germany, Britain, and France imposed new sanctions on Iran. The EU is considering fresh measures targeting Iran’s aviation sector.
Shipping data reveals that a Russian freighter, the Port Olya-3, made multiple voyages between Iran’s Caspian Sea port of Amirabad and the Russian port of Olya between May and September 12.
Experts like Fabian Hinz and David Albright speculate that Iran may have withheld launchers due to concerns about operating in Ukraine’s harsh winter conditions or to create space for diplomatic talks.
Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and other officials are set to meet with European officials on the sidelines of next week’s UN General Assembly in New York to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program, regional tensions, and other disputes.
The development has raised questions about the potential for diplomacy and the implications of Iran’s actions on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
