Iran Sent Russia $2.7 Billion Worth of Missiles Alone

Iran has sold Russia nearly $3 billion worth of missiles, according to Bloomberg, making the survival of the regime important to Kremlin leaders amid a crackdown on protests.

Contracts with Moscow, beginning in October 2021 — before the war — for ballistic and anti-aircraft missiles are worth approximately $2.7 billion, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The purchases included hundreds of Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles, nearly 500 other short-range ballistic missiles, and about 200 anti-aircraft missiles linked to air defense systems.

Moscow and Tehran have deepened ties since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has led to sweeping sanctions against Moscow and the Kremlin’s most serious confrontation with the West since the Cold War, and Iran’s supply of weapons to Russia has further deepened the partnership between the two regimes.

Iran has supplied millions of rounds of ammunition and shells, according to estimates, which is not the full extent of what Moscow has purchased from Tehran. Tehran has also supplied Shahed-136 kamikaze drones and joint technology that has enabled Russia to produce them domestically under the name Geran-2 as part of a $1.75 billion contract signed in early 2023.

In total, Russia has spent more than the equivalent of $4 billion on Iranian military equipment and weapons since the end of 2021, according to the estimate.

Iran, whose government has been suppressing ongoing violent protests since the 2010s, has sought to deepen ties with Russia.

Although Iran signed a strategic partnership with Russia in January 2025, it does not include a mutual defense pact, and Moscow did not provide any real assistance to Tehran during Israeli and US strikes on Iran last year. Russia is building a trade route with Tehran that connects it to India in an attempt to weaken the impact of sanctions, and officials are discussing strengthening financial and banking cooperation.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Russia is not among Iran’s largest trading partners. China tops the list, with trade with Iran amounting to $17.8 billion in 2024. Iran sends about 90% of its oil to China.

The UAE ranks second with $16.1 billion, followed by Turkey with $8.8 billion.

On Monday, Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from countries that do business with Iran.