Iran's increasing partnership with Russia seems to be instilling fear into intelligence officers who say the strengthening of ties will only strengthen both countries' capabilities, The Washington Post reported.

Last March, a delegation of 17 Iranians was invited to a tour of a Russian arms manufacturer's factories, including a plant that makes products such as advanced Russian air defense systems.

The trip to the plant called NPP Start in the city of Yekaterinburg was viewed by officials as a stamp of deepening partnership between both nations since the war in Ukraine started two years ago. This joint work or alliance could serve as a major factor when Israeli forces contemplate possible military strikes in retaliation against Iran's response to "Israel's" attack on its consulate in Syria. 

The intel officials explain that Russia's vow to provide Iran with advanced fighter jets and air defense technology will surely aid the latter in hardening its defenses against any future airstrikes by "Israel" or the US, as per The Post, citing American, European, and Middle Eastern intelligence officials and weapons experts.

The alleged weapons deals are part of a bigger collaboration that entails the joint production of military drones inside Russia, the sharing of anti-jamming technology, and real-time battlefield weapon assessments deployed against NATO-equipped forces in Ukraine, they added. 

Both nations, they stated, are not only receiving substantial benefits but the joint collaboration is elevating Iran from ally to strategic partner.

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Hanna Notte, director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said, “It’s no longer the patron-client dynamic, where Russia holds all the leverage,” adding, The Iranians are accruing benefits from this change. The nature of their relationship has gone beyond just getting things. There’s knowledge transfer, there’s intangible gains.”

Two intel officials with detailed knowledge of the deal claim that Russia agreed last year to buy about $2 billion worth of military goods, like anti-drone defensive systems, in addition to thousands of drones procured from Iran, as per The Washington Post.

David Albright, an expert on Iran’s weapon systems and president of the Institute for Science and International Security, gave an example and argued that even if Russia's S-400 system was not sold to Iran or deployed in the region, the mere sharing of information and technological expertise would boost Iran’s capabilities subtly without raising alarms in the West.

A united front 

In a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian yesterday, Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Russia would vehemently back Iran's response against "Israel" at the United Nations Security Council.

Lavrov additionally affirmed that the Iranian response was "responsible and within an interval of self-control" and noted that Russia never doubted Iran's intention to retaliate against "Israel's" aggression against its consulate and officials in Syria. 

He also described the aversion of certain countries to condemn "Israel's" attack against the Iranian consulate as "unfortunate". 

On his part, Amir-Abdollahian warned that his nation's retaliation to any Israeli aggression against its territories and assets would be much harsher and stronger. He added that Operation True Promise was limited and served as deterrence, punishment, and warning against the occupation. 

That followed an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting a day before, during which Russia's Permanent Representative, Vassily Nebenzia, condemned the Council's inaction regarding the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, while also calling for an end to bloodshed in the Middle East.

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