Iran prepares to send Russia launchers for short-range ballistic missiles, Reuters reports.

Iran prepares to send Russia launchers for short-range ballistic missiles, Reuters reports.

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Iran is preparing to send Russia a shipment of short-range ballistic missile launchers, according to Reuters. This move comes amidst ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, which have been delayed due to logistical issues [2]. The shipment is seen as a potential escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two countries and their allies.

The decision to send the launchers to Russia is a significant development in the ongoing negotiations. Iran has been open to expanding its cooperation with Russia, with the two countries signing a strategic partnership earlier this year [2]. The partnership has seen Russia provide Iran with military and diplomatic support, including the recent dispatch of planes to help put out a fire in Iran's biggest commercial port.

The shipment of missile launchers is likely to be a contentious issue in the ongoing talks. The United States and Israel have been pressing for Iran to halt its ballistic missile program, while Iran maintains that it has a right to self-defense [1]. The current talks are aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon in exchange for sanctions relief, but the issue of ballistic missiles remains a sticking point.

The decision to send the launchers to Russia is also likely to have geopolitical implications. Russia has been a key player in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and its deepening ties with Iran could further complicate the situation. The shipment of missile launchers is likely to be seen as a sign of Iran's growing confidence in its ability to assert itself on the global stage.

In the meantime, the talks between Iran and the United States continue to be delayed. The latest round was set for May 3 but was postponed due to logistical reasons [2]. The talks are being mediated by Oman, and the two countries have held three rounds since April 12, their highest-level contact since the United States withdrew from the landmark deal with Iran in 2018.

The ongoing negotiations are a complex and delicate process, with both sides facing significant challenges. The United States is pressing for a deal that goes beyond the original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and includes a permanent, structural change in Iran’s nuclear capabilities [1]. Iran, on the other hand, is demanding guarantees against future U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear pact and is open to expanded IAEA access but is not willing to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure entirely.

As the talks continue, the issue of Iran's ballistic missile program is likely to remain a contentious issue. The shipment of missile launchers to Russia is a significant development that could further complicate the negotiations and have geopolitical implications.

References:
[1] Reuters. (2025). How Trump blindsided Netanyahu with his Iran nuclear gamble. Retrieved from https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L8N3R32DX:0-how-trump-blindsided-netanyahu-with-his-iran-nuclear-gamble/
[2] Al Arabiya. (2025). Putin discussed Iran-US talks with Tehran: Kremlin. Retrieved from https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/05/06/putin-discussed-iranus-talks-with-tehran-kremlin-says