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A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Iran has sent close range ballistic missiles to Russia, prompting expanded sanctions on the country. Blinken said that he expects the missiles to be used against Ukrainian forces within weeks. In light of this announcement, we asked four experts one question: how are Iranian weapons affecting the war in Ukraine?Read their answers below.Nicole​​​​ Grajewski Fellow, Nuclear Policy Program Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceThe delivery of Iranian short-range ballistic missiles, particularly the Fath-360, could bolster Russia’s tactical options in Ukraine. These weapons offer Russia additional precision strike capabilities at ranges up to 120 kilometers (a little less than 75 miles), which can be useful for targeting Ukrainian positions and infrastructure near the front lines. The Fath-360 is particularly noteworthy because it’s often compared by Iranian defense commentators to the U.S.-supplied high-mobility artillery rocket systems due to its similar range, mobility, and precision-guided munition capabilities. Additionally, with the Fath-360, Russia can conserve its ballistic missiles like the Iskander and North Korean–supplied missiles (KN-23 and KN-24) for higher-value targets deeper within Ukraine.The transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia introduces significant new challenges for U.S. and European policymakers as they seek to navigate Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Following the expiration of the U.N. arms embargo in October 2023, the United States and Europe extended restrictions on Iran’s missile activities. Iran’s decision to supply Russia with the Fath-360, however, appears to be a calculated maneuver to exploit legal loopholes. The Fath-360 does not fall under Category I of the Missile Technology Control Regime, which governs missiles