Defence of Iran with Russian weapons

The Washington Post

An Iranian delegation visited Moscow last month at the invitation of Russian arms manufacturer NPP Start. The purpose of this important visit was to purchase useful equipment from the arms manufacturing factories. The 17 members of the Iranian delegation were entertained with food and cultural programs. On the last day of the tour, they went to the weapons factory. Iran has been waiting for these weapons for a long time. Among them was Russia's advanced air defence system, which could detect and shoot down enemy warplanes.

  Russia's advanced S-400 air defence system is manufactured in addition to mobile launchers and anti-aircraft weapons at the Yekaterinburg arms factory, which is under US sanctions due to the attack on Ukraine. Military experts have assessed this Russian air defence system as useful for detecting and destroying US and Israeli warplanes capable of evading radar.

 According to Russian documents and some Iranian e-mails leaked by the hacker group last February, the purpose of the March visit to Russia by Iranian officials was to explore scientific and technological possibilities, as well as to see how much production Russia could enable Iran to do.

However, it is not known whether Iran directly bought any weapons from Russia after this visit. But intelligence officials say that the strategic partnership between the two countries has deepened through this visit. The Russia-Iran alliance could become crucial ahead of a possible counter-attack following Saturday's Iranian attack on Israel.

Russia has pledged to provide technical assistance to Iran to send intelligence-capable artificial satellites. However, there is still no evidence whether Russia's most advanced Su-35 fighter jet has been given to Iran.

Iran has opened a dangerous new chapter in its relationship with Russia by agreeing to supply thousands of drones and missiles in 2022 to help Moscow in its war against Ukraine. This deepening of relations between them has helped strengthen the agreement between Moscow and Tehran. U.S., European and Middle Eastern intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity that Russia has pledged to help its ally with advanced fighter jets and air defence systems. In this, Tehran will be able to strengthen its defence against any possible air attack by Israel or the United States.

Experts said it was not known how many air defence systems were provided by Moscow or how many were installed in Iran. But Russian technology could make Iran a more formidable Israeli adversary. This arms deal is now bringing benefits to both countries.

Hannah Nott, an official at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said the relationship between the two countries is no longer limited to buyers and sellers, where Russia will get all the benefits. Iran is also now beginning to reap the benefits of this change. Their relationship is not limited to the exchange of goods. They are now also getting intangible benefits like talent exchange.

Intelligence officials say Russia is now upgrading its secret deal to the delivery of advanced fighter jets. Apart from this, it has also promised to provide technical assistance to Iran to send artificial satellites with intelligence capabilities. However, there is still no evidence whether Russia's most advanced Su-35 fighter jet has been given to Iran.

Iran, on the other hand, wants Russian anti-aircraft missiles to protect its nuclear facilities. In 2007, Tehran signed an agreement to buy Russia's S-300. But he could not give it under the pressure of the United States and European countries. But when that obstacle was removed in 2016, Iran started using the S-300 in 2019. Since then, Iran has been encouraged to take S-400. But it is not clear whether Russia gave them to Tehran or not. However, intelligence officials believe that even if the S-400 is not given directly, its design or technology may be transferred to Iran.

If Iran gets these defences, Iran's underground nuclear facilities in the crevices of the Rocky Mountains will be more secure. Kan Kasapaglou, a senior fellow at the Washington-based research institute Hudson Institute, said that the Iranian airspace will become a more dangerous area with these Russian weapons.

Meanwhile, recently Moscow and Tehran jointly started developing a new type of unmanned drone (UAV). This information has come to the fore in intelligence officers and leaked documents. However, the Washington Post could not verify these documents. However, Biden administration officials say they are verifying the accuracy of these documents. Russia and Iran, however, did not comment on this.