Russia’s Concerns about the Consequences of Receiving Ballistic Missiles from Iran
According to a report published by the Financial Times based on assessments by Western officials, Russia is hesitant to purchase ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic due to concerns that its allies in Ukraine may respond by supplying long-range missiles to Kiev.
Iran has so far sent hundreds of armed drones to Russia, which have been used to attack vital infrastructure in Ukraine. Western capitals believe that Tehran is ready for increased military cooperation with Moscow.
However, despite being under pressure and having limited capacity in its arsenal, Russia has refrained from purchasing long-range ballistic missiles from Iran, which fly faster than the speed of sound and have the ability to carry larger explosive payloads.