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The sources – a European diplomat, a European intelligence official and a US official – said it was unclear why Iran had not delivered the Fath-360 missile launchers. A U.S. official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran had not delivered the launchers at the time of the U.S. announcement that Iran was supplying the weapons. A European intelligence official said, without elaborating, that they do not expect Iran to provide the launchers.
Two experts told Reuters that the launchers were not sent for several reasons. One is that Russia may be planning to modify trucks to transport missiles, as Iran has done. Another is that by delaying the transfer of the launchers, Iran opens up space for new negotiations with Western powers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense declined to comment. Iran’s UN mission did not respond to a request for comment.
Tehran denies providing Moscow with missiles or thousands of drones, which Kiev and the West say Russia uses against military targets and to destroy civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s energy system. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on September 10 that Iran had delivered the Fath-360 to Russia and “will probably use them within a few weeks in Ukraine.”
In August, the Reuters agency, citing six unnamed sources, reported that Iran intends to send a “large number” of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic weapons to Russia. At the time, it was reported that several dozen Russian military personnel were training in Iran to use Fath-360 short-range tactical missile systems. Their range is up to 120 kilometers, the missiles are capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 150 kilograms.
At the time, the United States warned Iran of “swift and severe” consequences if reports were confirmed that Tehran planned to send hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.
”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The sources – a European diplomat, a European intelligence official and a US official – said it was unclear why Iran had not delivered the Fath-360 missile launchers. A U.S. official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran had not delivered the launchers at the time of the U.S. announcement that Iran was supplying the weapons. A European intelligence official said, without elaborating, that they do not expect Iran to provide the launchers.
Two experts told Reuters that the launchers were not sent for several reasons. One is that Russia may be planning to modify trucks to transport missiles, as Iran has done. Another is that by delaying the transfer of the launchers, Iran opens up space for new negotiations with Western powers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense declined to comment. Iran’s UN mission did not respond to a request for comment.
Tehran denies providing Moscow with missiles or thousands of drones, which Kiev and the West say Russia uses against military targets and to destroy civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s energy system. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on September 10 that Iran had delivered the Fath-360 to Russia and “will probably use them within a few weeks in Ukraine.”
In August, the Reuters agency, citing six unnamed sources, reported that Iran intends to send a “large number” of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic weapons to Russia. At the time, it was reported that several dozen Russian military personnel were training in Iran to use Fath-360 short-range tactical missile systems. Their range is up to 120 kilometers, the missiles are capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 150 kilograms.
At the time, the United States warned Iran of “swift and severe” consequences if reports were confirmed that Tehran planned to send hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.