Russia Continues Supplying Iran With TNT and Drone Parts Via Caspian Sea Route Amid Rising Tensions

Russia is persistently transferring ammunition, including TNT explosives and drone components, to Iran through the protected and isolated Caspian Sea shipping route, according to a report by NBC News based on a European government document verified by a Western source. These shipments underscore the deepening strategic alliance between Tehran and Moscow as both face separate conflicts and share the United States as a common adversary.

The Caspian Sea route, previously reported by the New York Times in May, serves as a critical corridor for Russia to help Iran rebuild its drone arsenal, which U.S. officials say was 60% destroyed in recent conflicts with the U.S. and Israel. This route also circumvents the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Russia to deliver goods that can no longer pass through the traditional maritime chokepoint.

NBC's latest report reveals the expanded scope of shipments now includes TNT, vital for Iran as it reportedly prepares for a potential direct confrontation with the U.S. or Israel. Iranian officials recently warned the U.S. that Tehran will adopt a "completely offensive" policy if sanctions and blockades continue indefinitely. Meanwhile, a suspected Iranian attack on a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz caused engine damage and casualties, prompting Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to declare the strait will remain closed until U.S. sanctions are lifted and frozen Iranian assets released.

In response, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social calling the Strait of Hormuz "new American territory," a statement mocked by Iranian officials who asserted control over the strait. The Caspian Sea corridor, dubbed the "Caspian Express," remains a strategic lifeline for Iran and Russia, with ships often disabling tracking systems to evade detection. Israel has also targeted this route, notably bombing the Iranian naval headquarters in Bandar Anzali in March.

Experts warn that continued use of this route enables Iran to withstand the U.S. blockade, prolonging regional tensions. Some analysts urge the U.S. to leverage its influence over Azerbaijan to disrupt this supply line, building on recent diplomatic successes in the South Caucasus to counter the growing Iran-Russia alliance.