A Reuters investigation has uncovered multiple visits by senior Russian missile specialists to Iran over the past year, highlighting growing defense cooperation between the two nations. Travel records indicate that seven Russian weapons experts flew from Moscow to Tehran on April 24 and September 17, 2024.
The experts, many of whom hold high-ranking military positions, specialize in air-defense systems, artillery, and advanced weapons development. Records show that at least some of them visited Iranian missile production facilities, including underground sites. However, the exact nature of their activities in Iran remains undisclosed.
Iran and Russia, which signed a 20-year military pact in January, have strengthened military ties, impacting conflicts such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, where Iranian-designed Shahed drones have been widely used. Despite inquiries, officials from both nations declined to comment on the visits.
