Secret Russian airlift to besieged Iranian regime: ‘Gold or Iskander missile?

As public protests in Iran gather steam with millions pouring into the streets against the   regime, the Islamic Republic could be facing an existential threat. Amidst this, speculation is rife that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials could flee the country.

British lawmaker Tom Tugendhat’s statement that Russian cargo aircraft were landing in  Tehran over the last week has gained attention after he suggested that a large amount of gold was leaving Iran. “We’re seeing Russian cargo aircraft coming and landing in Tehran, presumably carrying weapons and ammunition, and we’re hearing reports of large amounts of gold leaving Iran,” Tugendhat told parliament, adding that the regime leaders could be preparing for life after the fall.

He also repeated the claim in an article that appeared in The Times. “The economy is in free fall. Inflation is out of control, the government is buying riyals to stabilise prices, and importing every weapon it can get from Russia. But none of that is enough. Reports of gold leaving the country are increasing, desertions of army and police personnel are on the rise, and money is only entering the country through the sale of drones or through drug deals via Venezuela,” he claimed.

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 shows at least five Russian Il-76 cargo aircraft  flew to Tehran in the first week of January, hinting at uninterrupted and undeclared  Russian deliveries to Iran. Social media also tracked flight data, which showed Belarusian Il-76 cargo planes landing in Tehran, which many believed were carrying Russian and Chinese weapons and equipment to the Islamic regime's beleaguered security forces.

Meanwhile, reports quoting Iranian media claims that Russia has sent Iskander short-range ballistic missile systems—capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads—to Tehran.  According to Tasnim News Agency, which maintains close links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), “reliable sources confirmed the arrival of the Russian Iskander missile system in Iran today.”

If the allegations are confirmed, this transfer would be among the most significant missile technology developments in the Middle East since the United Nations ballistic missile sanctions on Iran expire in 2023, with major implications for regional deterrence stability, military escalation dynamics, and existing missile defense systems.