US says Russia has shipped military equipment and TNT to Iran via the Caspian Sea

WASHINGTON, United States — NBC News reported on Monday that Russia has begun shipping unmanned aerial vehicle components, ammunition and TNT explosives to Iran via the Caspian Sea, citing U.S. intelligence sources. The shipments also include materials that could be used in the production of ballistic missile warheads, according to a European government document obtained and verified by a Western official. Satellite imagery analysis indicates that more than 20 Russian vessels crossed the Caspian Sea to deliver the cargo to Iran's port of Amirabad. The report said most of the ships are subject to U.S. and EU sanctions, and that some are operated by MG Flot, a company sanctioned by Washington since 2024. The Caspian Sea is enclosed by five littoral states and lacks a permanent Western naval presence, a factor the report said makes it difficult to intercept the shipments. Some vessels reportedly disabled their automatic identification systems during transit to reduce tracking. According to NBC News, the transfers come as Moscow moves to support Tehran's effort to rebuild its strike capability, following Iran's large-scale delivery of Shahed-type drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.