Russia Begins Supplying Missiles to Iran, Bolstering Tehran's Arsenal

Russia has begun supplying missiles to Iran as Tehran replenishes its military arsenal, according to a Western source familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. This marks a new phase in military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, following earlier reports of Russia sharing intelligence that Iran could use for airstrikes. The report suggests that a U.S.-Israeli military campaign has failed to achieve its goal of preventing Iran from producing missiles and drones. Despite extensive bombing, Iran has managed to preserve some of its production capabilities and has used the cessation of hostilities to restock its military supplies, including anti-ship missiles. The source indicated that Iran's leadership can significantly increase its production of missiles and drones rapidly. These Russian missile deliveries could further enhance Tehran's military strength and complicate efforts to curb its missile capabilities.

Separately, an observer for the Maariv newspaper, Ben Caspit, reported that the U.S. had proposed Israel independently strike Iran, citing sources familiar with recent U.S.-Israeli negotiations. The U.S. administration reportedly favored Israel conducting its own strikes rather than a joint operation or unilateral U.S. action. However, Chief of Staff of the IDF Eyal Zamir cautioned the U.S. that such a move could lead to the postponement of elections in Israel. Following this warning, Washington dropped its demand, and the initiative is currently on hold, according to Caspit.