RUSSIA is sending air defense systems to Iran as the authoritarian state prepares for an imminent attack on Israel, according to officials in Tehran.
The New York Times was told by two Iranian officials, one of whom is a member of the country’s military, that Russia has begun delivering advanced radar and air defense equipment.
While it is not known exactly what equipment Iran requested, Iran already has several Russian-made S-300 air defense systems.
Just yesterday Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s security council secretary and former defense minister, met with Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and top security officials to support the Middle Eastern country.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Shoigu said, “We are ready to fully cooperate with Iran in various fields.”
Meanwhile, Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for supporting Iran in difficult times, adding that he wanted to strengthen ties with Russia.
Also read: Iran Attack Expected to Occur in a Matter of Hours and More Devastating
Iran is currently preparing a major attack on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hamas’ top negotiator Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month.
Iran attack late Tuesday
Top US diplomat Anthony Blinken told the G7 over the weekend that there was little information about the nature of the expected strike, but it would likely occur by the end of Tuesday, if it did occur.
American and Israeli officials believe that Iran will coordinate with its allies in the region, also known as the Axis of Resistance, consisting of groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Also read: Biden Meets with National Security Team to Discuss the Threat of Middle East Conflict
Behind closed doors, the US has tried to ease tensions between Israel, Iran, and their respective allies.
In a desperate bid to defuse tensions, Biden yesterday called King Abdullah II of Jordan, who helped shoot down an Iranian drone and missile in a previous standoff in April.
Blinken called top officials in Qatar and Egypt, key brokers in brokering a ceasefire in the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war.
“We are engaged in intense diplomacy, almost around the clock, with a very simple message: all parties must refrain from escalation,” Blinken said after joining other top officials for meetings at the White House.
“It is critical that we break this cycle by achieving a ceasefire in Gaza,” Blinken said. (Z-2)
#Russia #Sends #Defense #Systems #Iran #Attack #Late #Tuesday
