Russia Begins Sending Drone Parts and TNT to Iran on 17-18

Russia started transferring drone parts, TNT, and other ammunition to Iran via the Caspian Sea route between the 17th and 18th. This move is analyzed as an attempt to replenish Iran's dwindling weapon stock due to airstrikes from the United States and Israel. According to European government reports, this transportation is evaluated as the first instance of Russia supplying military supplies to Iran. After the Ukraine war, the flow of military supplies primarily headed from Iran to Russia, but this time, as Iran's military infrastructure was hit, Russia moved to replenish it. The Caspian Sea route is a transportation route that passes through the inland sea connecting Russia, Iran, and Central Asian countries, and is considered a sensitive corridor for the movement of critical materials due to its characteristics that make it difficult for external navies to block. The report included drone parts, TNT, and other ammunition, but the scale of support and the amount loaded per ship were not disclosed. Military cooperation between Russia and Iran has been prolonged since 2022, with Iran acknowledging the sale of drones to Russia but denying claims that they would be used in the Ukraine war. As the Caspian logistics are once again identified as a military transport route, the focus of Russia-Iran cooperation is expanding beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.