live Hormuz traffic slows as uncertainty over waterway persists
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most s...
Iran has supplied Russia with more than $4 billion worth of military equipment since late 2021, including missiles, drones and ammunition, according to assessments by Western security officials reported by Bloomberg.
The reported transfers began months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and have continued throughout the war, contributing to Moscow’s military campaign.
According to the assessment, missile contracts signed from October 2021 were valued at about $2.7 billion and included hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles, as well as surface-to-air missiles linked to air defence systems. Among them were Fath-360 missiles, which have a range capable of reaching major Ukrainian cities near the front lines.
It also said that Iran has also supplied Russia with Shahed-136 attack drones and provided technical assistance that allowed Moscow to manufacture a domestic version known as the Geran-2. That cooperation was linked to a separate contract worth about $1.75 billion, signed in early 2023, the assessment said.
In addition to missiles and drones, Iran is reported to have delivered millions of rounds of ammunition and artillery shells to Russia, though officials said this does not represent the full scale of military support provided so far.
Since Russia's invasion of Urkaine, Tehran and Moscow have drawn closer as both countries face extensive Western sanctions. The two signed a strategic partnership agreement in January 2025, though it did not include a mutual defence clause.
Despite the growing cooperation, Russia did not provide direct military support to Iran during Israeli and U.S. strikes last year, highlighting the limits of the partnership.
At present, Iran faces intense international scrutiny over its handling of ongoing domestic protests. The United States has warned that military options remain under consideration in response to Tehran’s actions during the demonstrations. Latest death toll figures show more than 2,571 people have been reportedly killed during these last two weeks since the protests began.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
Russia said its air defences downed 180 drones over the Moscow region overnight, with 620 drones reportedly targeting the area, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing growing pressure as his approval ratings fall and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gains support.
At least six Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, according to Palestinian health officials, as efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to advance a plan to end the war remain deadlocked.
Georgia’s newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III is set to visit Istanbul, with the upcoming trip discussed during a meeting with Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, a representative of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
Azerbaijan’s strategic rise is turning it from a transit state into a regional rule-setter, with the Middle Corridor giving Baku growing influence far beyond its size, analyst Ahmad Alili says.
Kyrgyzstan is seeking to boost fuel imports from China as it looks to diversify supplies and reduce the risks of its heavy reliance on Russia.
At least 42 children were injured in an explosion at an educational centre in western Kabul on Monday, sparking international calls for a full investigation.
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