For the first time, Iran has transferred long-range surface-to-surface missiles to militias in Iraq, defying US President Donald Trump ahead of direct US-Tehran talks, the UK-based The Times reported on Wednesday.

The move significantly bolsters Tehran’s influence in the region as the missiles are capable of reaching Europe.

The report contradicts a Reuters report earlier this week that the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are considering disarming due to pressure from the Trump administration. A source told The Times that these reports are false. “The efforts seen in the last 48 hours to create a picture that the militias are disarming is a ruse,” he said.

“Iran has recently transferred missiles to Shia militias in Iraq, including new models with longer range, which have not been given in the past to those militias,” a regional intelligence source confirmed to the Times. “It’s a desperate move by the Iranians, risking the stability of Iraq,”

The report continued by saying that “the weapons were transferred last week, according to regional intelligence involved in monitoring the nearly 1,000-mile border between the countries. It was the first time long-range surface-to-surface missiles had been in the possession of an Iran-allied militia in Iraq. Sources said the delivery was arranged by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Air Force.”

“Sources said that two other types of missiles, the Quds 351 cruise and Jamal 69 ballistic missiles, were also smuggled into Iraq last week. They had a much shorter range than the new surface-to-surface missiles, which could be positioned to target as far as Europe.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)