Iran 'supplied Russia' with vast weaponry for its war in Ukraine: document

Iran has reportedly sold ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine, new evidence suggests in a report published on Monday.

The 16-page document dated on 14 September 2022 appears to reveal a contract in relation to samples of various forms of weaponry -  including tanks and rockets - worth a reported $1,013,100 million (£800,000), security sources told the UK broadcaster Sky News.

The document also revealed a deal worth $740,000 that includes barrels for a T-72 tank and a Howitzer artillery piece, as well as other ammunition shells.

Samples also include varying sizes of high-explosive rounds and shells.

Sky News said it was unable to verify the contract, but the security sources it spoke to claimed that the document is "100 percent authentic" and evidence of "Iran’s military support to Russia".

The contract between what appears to be the Ministry of Defence and Logistics of the Armed Forces of Iran and Russia's state military exporting and importing company JSC Rosoboronexport is "plausible", experts told Sky News, as the corresponding date matched with separate reports claiming that such a transaction occurred.

⚡️Sky News has gained access to an alleged arms contract that could be the first hard evidence that #Iran has sold munitions to #Russia for its war in #Ukraine

The document, dated September 14, 2022, refers to artillery and tank shells and missiles totaling just over $1 million. pic.twitter.com/ctN1v098VY

— KyivPost (@KyivPost) June 5, 2023

The contract in question is also identified by the number "NoIR-RU-2022 6001/1/NoP/2236478020960", with "for delivery of ammunition" written below it.

The document, which is written entirely in English, includes details such as the parties and subject of the contract, terms and conditions as well as the price list.

One of the paragraphs reads: "The supplier shall supply the subject of the contract specified in Annex No1 to the contract in one or several lots (upon consultation between the parties) within 10 days from the date of visual PDI (Pre Dispatch Inspection)."

The contract also states that should any party be unable to comply with any liabilities, this won’t be considered "a violation" if caused by a force majeure.

The term usually frees relevant parties from any liability in case of war, riots or any other extraordinary event. Russia, however, was - and still is - actively engaging in a conflict with Ukraine at the time of the contract, while Iran has been involved in regional conflicts, such as in Yemen and Syria.

Sky News added that it showed the documents to both UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal last month.

In separate interviews, both Cleverly and Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, said they would initiate a probe and take "appropriate action" should the document prove to be accurate.

"Where we have evidence that Iran has provided military support to Russia in Russia's attempted invasion of Ukraine we have taken action and we will, of course, always do likewise," the UK top diplomat stated.

In November last year, Iran admitted to supplying Russia with Mohajer-6 and Shahed-series drones, but Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian claimed this was done before Moscow invaded its neighbour in February 2022.

Tehran had denied the claims on a number of occasions prior to the admission, after Ukraine and Western countries claimed that Iranian weaponry was used in Russia’s invasion.

Many reports have said that Iran has supplied Russia with military aid and expertise, as Moscow’s arms stock depleted significantly due to its ongoing attacks on Ukraine and heavy western sanctions.

In January this year, officials alleged that Russia was transporting Iran-supplied artillery shells and other ammunition across the Caspian Sea in a bid to re-supply its forces who are fighting in Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The New Arab has contacted both the Iranian and Russian embassies in London for a comment on the matter.