A satellite image shows the Port Olya 3 vessel at Port Olya in southern Russia on 4 September. Image Courtesy: Maxar Technologies

Russian Cargo Ship Suspected of Carrying Iranian Missiles for Ukraine War

A Russian cargo ship suspected of transporting Iranian ballistic missiles for Moscow’s war in Ukraine was spotted at the southern Russia port on the Caspian Sea last week, according to a CNN report, citing satellite imagery shared with the news outlet.

The vessel, identified as Port Olya 3, by Maxar Technologies was seen at Port Olya in Astrakhan on September 4. Before that on August 29, the vessel was spotted in the Iranian port of Amirabad before turning off its transponder, added the report.

Russian Ministry of Defense

On Tuesday, the US Treasury department assessed that the Russian Ministry of Defense had “used the vessel Port Olya 3 to transport CRBMs from Iran to Russia.”

“As of early September 2024, Russia received the first shipment of CBRMs (close-range ballistic missiles) from Iran,” CNN quoted the Treasury as saying, as it announced sanctions on the Port Olya 3 along with other vessels and several Iranian individuals.

According to a Sky News report, citing a Ukrainian source, the Port Olya 3 vessel had shipped around 220 short-range ballistic missiles via the Caspian Sea to Russia.

After arriving in Russia, the Ukrainian source said it is believed the Fateh-360 ballistic missiles  were loaded on to a large cargo train.

Iran Sends Short-Range Missiles to Russia for Ukraine War, Escalating Support

CNN had reported last weekend that Iran recently sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, marking a major escalation in Iranian support for Russia.

Since the February 2022 invasion, Iran and Russia have strengthened their military ties, with Iran supplying thousands of Shahed drones and reportedly building a drone factory in Russia.

The satellite imagery emerged a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US believes Russia has received Iranian Fatah-360 missiles, which are expected to be used against Ukraine in the coming weeks.

The Fateh-360, with a range of up to 75 miles and a 330-pound payload, is designed to target Ukrainian positions from a distance and is difficult to intercept.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has assessed that “Russian forces will likely use the Iranian-supplied missiles to target Ukrainian energy, military, and civilian infrastructure in the coming months”, reported CNN.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi denied that the Islamic Republic had supplied ballistic missiles to Russia.

Once again, US and E3 act on faulty intelligence and flawed logic
– Iran has NOT delivered ballistic missiles to Russia. Period
– Sanction addicts should ask themselves: how is Iran able to make & supposedly sell sophisticated arms?
Sanctions r NOT a solution, but part of problem

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) September 11, 2024

“Once again, US and E3 (UK, France and Germany) act on faulty intelligence and flawed logic, Iran has NOT delivered ballistic missiles to Russia. Period,” he posted on X.

“Sanction addicts should ask themselves: how is Iran able to make & supposedly sell sophisticated arms? Sanctions r NOT a solution, but part of problem,” Araghchi added.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian charge d’affaires Shahriar Amouzegar this week in response to reports of ballistic missiles being sent to Russia.

Amouzegar was warned of “devastating and irreparable consequences” for Ukrainian-Iranian relations if the reports proved accurate.

Britain’s foreign ministry also summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires on Wednesday over the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.

“Today, in coordination with European partners and upon instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The UK Government was clear in that any transfer of Ballistic Missiles to Russia would be seen as a dangerous escalation and would face a significant response,” added the statement.

According to CNN, the ISW, a Washington think tank, noted that Iran has previously shipped weapons from Amirabad and Anzali ports to Astrakhan, with the Port Olya 3 making a dozen visits to these Iranian ports this year. By September 6, the ship had departed from the Russian port.

Meanwhile, Blinken on Tuesday said that Washington had “warned Iran privately that taking this step would constitute a dramatic escalation.”

He also noted that Russian troops had been trained in Iran to use the Fateh-360 missiles, which allow Russia to target from greater distances and reserve other missiles for closer-range strikes.

With inputs from agencies