Russia has been secretly providing Iran with advanced missile technology aimed at helping Tehran develop weapons capable of striking US Navy aircraft carriers in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times investigation published Tuesday.
The covert partnership reportedly dates back to 2023 and operated under the codename C430L, with Moscow assisting Tehran as it worked to develop increasingly sophisticated missile capabilities.
One of the project’s primary goals was reportedly to create a ramjet propulsion system capable of propelling Iranian missiles at several times the speed of sound. Missiles using such technology, especially when traveling at low altitudes, could leave Western air defense systems with significantly less time to detect and respond to an incoming attack.
The Financial Times reported that the sophistication of the technology involved meant that any transfer would likely have required approval at the highest levels of Russia’s government. The missile cooperation may have been one component of a wider exchange between the two countries, with Iran aiding Moscow’s drone program while Russia provided assistance to Tehran’s missile efforts. The two governments have also developed extensive intelligence ties.
Documents reviewed by the Financial Times reportedly show that work on the arrangement had begun even before it was formally signed in November 2023, approximately one month after the October 7 attack.
According to the investigation, Russian support for Iran remained ongoing during the war with Iran in February and provided Tehran with significant assistance as it carried out attacks against Gulf states.
Military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran has grown considerably in recent years as both governments have faced increasing Western pressure over their international alliances and activities in their respective regions.
The deepening relationship was on display in April 2025, when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow and met Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Araghchi delivered a message from Iran’s then-Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was later eliminated in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. The message stressed the importance of further strengthening relations between Russia and Iran.
Several weeks after that meeting, Putin signed legislation previously approved by the Russian parliament that expanded bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Tehran across multiple areas, including military and security matters.
Iran has also pursued the acquisition of Russia’s advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets as part of its efforts to strengthen its military capabilities. Tehran, however, has voiced frustration over Moscow’s repeated delays in delivering the aircraft.
{Matzav.com}
