European Document: Russia Is Sending Drones, Explosives and Ammunition to Iran via the Caspian Sea

A document from a European government cited by NBC News reveals the existence of a new route for transporting military equipment from Russia to Iran via the Caspian Sea.

A Western official confirmed the contents of the document, according to which Russian shipments to Tehran include explosives, drone parts and ammunition. These materials are being used in Iran’s efforts to replace some of the military capabilities it lost during the war with the United States and Israel.

The materials reportedly being transported also include trinitrotoluene (TNT), an explosive that can be used, among other things, in the production of nuclear warheads.

It is not yet known in what quantities these transfers are taking place or how far Iran’s arsenal has advanced. Western intelligence agencies have not made their assessments of the matter public.

The Caspian Sea, a route that complicates surveillance

The choice of the Caspian Sea as a transport corridor is seen as particularly significant. The sea is bordered only by Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Under the Caspian Sea’s legal status, the armed forces of countries without a Caspian coastline cannot operate there. As a result, warships from the United States or other Western countries cannot be deployed there to intercept cargo moving between Russian and Iranian ports.

Monitoring is further complicated because ships can turn off their Automatic Identification System transponders, known as AIS. This makes tracking their movements more difficult.

The maritime route allows Moscow and Tehran to bypass crossings and locations where the United States and its allies have far greater surveillance capabilities.

According to the document, the main objective is to restore Iran’s drone program, with components for these systems making up a significant share of the shipments.

Before the war began, Iran had built one of the most powerful drone programs in the region. The program focused on the Shahed model, which Tehran had also supplied to Russia in large quantities for use in the war in Ukraine.

Strikes by the United States and Israel significantly damaged Iran’s military capabilities. Restarting drone production requires both the necessary components and the explosives used in their warheads. According to the European document, both categories are included in the shipments from Russia.

The military relationship between the two countries is changing

This development is also significant because it alters the previous pattern of military supplies between Moscow and Tehran.

For a long period, military equipment flowed mainly from Iran to Russia. Tehran sent drones to Moscow and provided technical support for establishing production lines on Russian territory, with the aim of strengthening Russia on the Ukrainian front.

The new information indicates that Russia is now supplying Iran with military materials.

For Moscow, strengthening Tehran also has a broader strategic dimension. A militarily stronger Iran could force the U.S. to commit more troops and resources to the Middle East, potentially limiting the attention and capabilities Washington can devote to Ukraine.

This supply route had previously been targeted by Israel.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli airstrikes in March 2026 struck the port of Bandar Anzali, located on Iran’s northern Caspian Sea coast.

The strikes damaged port infrastructure and Iranian Navy vessels. Israeli officials said the aim was to disrupt this particular supply line.

However, evidence included in the European document and now cited by NBC News indicates that shipments may have continued or resumed after the Israeli strikes.

The attack on Bandar Anzali appears to have caused a temporary disruption or rerouting, rather than permanently eliminating the supply line.

The Caspian Sea’s geography makes blocking the shipments even more difficult. The five countries with coastlines on the sea have a number of ports, creating multiple transport alternatives and making it harder to disrupt the network by striking only one piece of infrastructure.

Moscow and Tehran have not publicly commented on the specific shipments. It is also unclear whether the volume of materials sent by Russia is sufficient to offset the losses Iran’s arsenal sustained as a result of the American and Israeli strikes.