Russia is reportedly shipping explosives and drone components to Iran through a protected route across the Caspian Sea, helping Tehran rebuild its weapons arsenal amid its confrontation with the United States and Israel.

According to NBC, citing a European document verified by a Western official, the shipments from Moscow include TNT explosives and components used for drones. The supplies are intended to help Iran replenish weapons stockpiles damaged during the war with the U.S. and Israel.

The maritime route, dubbed the “Caspian Express,” provides a way to bypass the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. While the route was previously used largely to transport Iranian drones to Russia, equipment is now reportedly moving in both directions, including supplies aimed at rearming the Iranian military.

The reported shipments come as tensions remain high in the Persian Gulf. An unidentified vessel was struck by unknown munitions while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, leaving at least one casualty.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the strait would remain closed until the United States lifts its naval blockade, removes sanctions and releases frozen Iranian assets.

The Caspian Sea offers Russia and Iran a strategically important route because there is no U.S. military presence there. Previous attempts to disrupt maritime activity — including a Ukrainian attack on ships in the sea and an Israeli strike on Iranian naval headquarters at Bandar Anzali in March — have not stopped traffic.

Experts cited in the report warned that the Trump administration will need to address the route, with some suggesting that Azerbaijan could be leveraged to disrupt it before it becomes a permanent logistical backbone for cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)