Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles for several years, including during the ongoing US-Iran conflict, according to a report by the Financial Times.
The investigation said Moscow had enlisted some of its most experienced military and technical specialists to assist Tehran in developing a new class of missiles capable of posing a threat to US aircraft carriers and warships deployed in the Middle East.
At the centre of the programme is a ramjet propulsion system designed to enable cruise missiles to travel at several times the speed of sound, according to the report. Such technology could significantly increase the speed at which a missile reaches its target and potentially reduce the time available for an adversary to detect and intercept it.
Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iranian missile capabilities, described the reported cooperation as a major transfer of sensitive technology from Russia to Iran. He said Tehran had sought access to such technology for decades and suggested that an initiative of this scale would likely require approval at the highest levels of the Russian government.
The technology transfer, reportedly carried out under the codename C430L, began in 2023 and has continued during the current US-Iran war, the Financial Times reported. The newspaper based its findings on leaked Russian correspondence, travel records, and military patents.
The allegations come amid growing evidence of closer military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Several investigations in recent months have pointed to the transfer of military technology and equipment between the two countries, despite efforts by the Trump administration to maintain diplomatic channels with the Kremlin.
A confidential document reported by The Economist earlier this year reportedly outlined proposals for Russia to provide Iran with military equipment and training intended to strengthen its ability to confront US forces in the Gulf.
The document was said to include plans for Moscow to supply Iran with as many as 5,000 short-range fibre-optic drones, longer-range satellite-guided drones, and technical guidance on their use.
Western intelligence officials also warned in March that Russia was sending drones to Iran to support its military campaign against the United States and Israel. The claims followed reports that Moscow was also sharing intelligence concerning the movements of American troops, naval vessels, and aircraft.
According to those reports, Russia began delivering drones to Iran in early March, with the shipments expected to be completed by the end of the month as the US and Israel exchanged missile strikes with Iranian forces.
Ukrainian intelligence officials have separately accused Moscow of providing Tehran with information that could be used to target US military assets in the Gulf. The allegations reflect growing concerns in Washington and Kyiv over the extent of Russia’s military relationship with Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also raised concerns about alleged Russian assistance to Iran during an interview on The Rest is Politics: Leading podcast. He said he had attempted to draw attention to the issue but questioned whether US negotiators were sufficiently concerned about Moscow’s actions.
Zelensky said he had publicly raised the matter and questioned whether Washington had demanded that Russia stop assisting Iran. He argued that close diplomatic engagement between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin could make it more difficult for Washington to respond to alleged Russian support for Tehran.
The Trump administration has acknowledged reports of alleged Russian actions affecting US interests but has played down their significance during the broader geopolitical confrontation, according to The Independent.
If confirmed, Russia’s reported assistance with supersonic missile technology would represent a significant development in Iran’s military capabilities. Beyond the immediate US-Iran conflict, the cooperation could deepen concerns in Washington and among its regional allies about Iran’s ability to threaten naval forces and other high-value military assets in the Middle East.
The reported programme also highlights how the war and broader confrontation involving the United States, Iran and Israel are increasingly drawing Russia into the military balance in the region, potentially creating new challenges for efforts to contain the conflict.
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