Iran handed over only missiles to Russia, but did not send launchers — Reuters

Iran did not include mobile launchers (PU) in Russia's deliveries, but sent only short-range ballistic missiles. It is reported by Reuters, citing sources, writes Yahoo.

"The sources — a European diplomat, a European intelligence official and an American official — said it was unclear why Iran had not supplied launchers with Fath-360 missiles, which raises questions about when and whether these weapons will be used (by Russia. — EADaily)," the article says.

According to the American official, who spoke, like the others, on condition of anonymity, Iran had not sent launchers at the time of the US announcement of Iran's arms supplies to Russia. A European intelligence official said, without going into details, that they do not expect Tehran to hand over the launchers.

According to experts, there may be several reasons why the launchers were not sent to Russia.

One of the reasons why Iran has not sent the launchers may be that the civilian trucks that Iran has modified to launch these and other missiles are not reliable enough to operate on rough terrain during the harsh winter in Ukraine, said Iranian missile expert from the International Institute for Strategic Studies Fabian Hinz. According to him, Iran modifies trucks of Mercedes and other companies and turns them into easily disguised rocket launchers. This suggests that Russia can modify its own military vehicles.

He, however, stressed that he could not confirm whether Tehran was holding the launchers. As well as the former UN nuclear inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security, David Albright.

According to him, Iran's new president Masoud Pezeshkian and other Iranian officials will meet with European officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week in New York to test the potential of diplomacy on Tehran's nuclear program, regional tensions and other disputes.

"Perhaps they (Iran) are holding the launchers to provide some space for these negotiations. One can imagine that if Iranian missiles rained down (on Ukraine), it would cause condemnation at the General Assembly," he said.

However, he doubts that Iran will make the necessary compromises.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on September 10 that Iran had delivered the Fath-360 to Russia and she, "probably, will apply them within a few weeks on Ukraine".

According to Blinken, these missiles threaten European security and will be fired at short-range targets, which will allow Russia to reserve more of its vast arsenal for targets behind the front line.

In connection with the shipments, the United States, Germany, Britain and France imposed new sanctions on Iran, and the EU said it was considering new measures against Iran's aviation sector.