RTRS-'Iran Sends Russia Hundreds Of Ballistic Missiles'

Reuters reports that according to its sources, "Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles [...] deepening the military cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries." The missiles, totalling around 400 in number are "capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km (186 and 435 miles), experts say."

• The reports of Iran providing missiles to Russia comes in the wake of stories in January claiming that North Korea is also providing ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine (a claim denied by Moscow and Pyongyang).
• The provision of a significant number of ballistic missiles comes as Ukraine's supply of ground-based air defence materiel is running low amid delays in the US Congress on the approval of a new aid package for Kyiv.
• A major increase in Russia's ability to launch missile attacks combined with a reduced Ukrainian capacity to repel such barrages risks not necessarily battlefield concessions (where artillery is the more effective weaponry) but damage to key Ukrainian infrastructure and depleted civilian morale.
• Reuters notes that "Western nations were concerned that Russia's reciprocal transfer of weapons to Iran could strengthen its position in any possible conflict with the United States and Israel." Following the meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Ebrahim Raisi in Dec 2023, the two countries are set to sign a broad cooperation treaty in the near future.