Arrr! The land o' Russia be settin' sail to strike a deal with Iran fer some fancy cannonballs, says a report!
2024-01-04
Arr! Word has it that Moscow and Tehran be sailin' together, aimin' to strike a deal fer buyin' them Iranian short-range cannonballs, mayhaps to be fired in that Ukraine skirmish.
Russia is reportedly in the process of purchasing short-range ballistic missiles from Iran. This tentative sale agreement was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials. The missiles would enhance Russia's ability to target Ukrainian infrastructure, especially as support for U.S. military assistance to Kyiv is dwindling in Congress. U.S. officials expressed concern that Russia intends to acquire missile systems from Iran and believe that the first deliveries of Iranian missiles could take place by spring.According to the officials, Russia has already begun receiving ballistic missile launchers and several dozen ballistic missiles from North Korea. Russia's interest in obtaining Iranian missiles became evident in mid-December when a Russian delegation visited Iran and viewed ballistic missiles and related equipment displayed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force. This visit occurred shortly after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited the IRGC Aerospace Force headquarters in Tehran and highlighted the strengthening relations between Russia and Iran.
There are growing concerns that Moscow's cooperation with Tehran could enhance Iran's military capabilities and provide relief from Western sanctions. The U.S. has imposed additional sanctions on Iran to discourage its missile trade, and a United Nations Security Council resolution that banned Iranian missile sales without approval expired in October. In response, Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that the UN ban no longer needed to be followed, indicating a shift in Russia's previous cooperation with the U.S. and other countries regarding the Iran nuclear deal and sanctions against North Korea.
Overall, this potential missile deal between Russia and Iran raises concerns about Russia's intentions and its impact on regional stability.