Moscow: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Russia is showing significant support for Iran by delivering air defense systems and radar equipment to the country, the New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources.
The development comes as Iran is widely expected to attack Israel anytime in retaliation to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for the killing and have vowed revenge. It is understood that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered direct attacks on Israel.
Earlier, Iranian media reported that Tehran requested air defense systems as Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited Tehran on August 5 and met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is in no way seeking to expand the scope of war and crisis in the region,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. “But this regime will receive a response for its crimes and arrogance”.
Shoigu also met Iranian military chief Brigadier General Mohammad Bagheri, who according to The New York Times, is in charge of planning the offensive against Israel. The US and Israeli officials have said they expect Iran and its allied militant groups to launch a large and coordinated attack on Israel. The groups, collectively known as the “Axis of Resistance", include Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Russia and Iran have emerged as strong allies in recent years. Russia is heavily dependent on Iranian drones for the war in Ukraine. The two countries have also recently decided to increase their military and intelligence cooperation.
Pakistan to provide ballistic missiles to Iran?Pakistan is reportedly planning to send Shaheen III medium-range ballistic missiles to Iran if the conflict between Tehran and Israel escalates, the Jerusalem Post reported. An emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), requested by Iran and Pakistan, took place recently in Saudi Arabia, with Iran examining its response to the assassination of Hamas leader. US officials said that since the weekend, they have observed Iran moving missile launchers and conducting military exercises as part of Tehran's preparations for an attack aimed at Israel in the coming days, the Post reported. |
