London, Sept. 2 -- Russia has allegedly been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles under a multi-year covert programme, in what the Financial Times reported as one of the most significant known transfers of strategic military technology from Moscow to Tehran.

According to the Financial Times, the programme, codenamed C430L, began in 2023 and involves some of Russia's most experienced missile specialists. The programme aims to help Iran develop a ramjet propulsion system that could enable cruise missiles to travel at several times the speed of sound.

The Financial Times investigation, based on leaked Russian correspondence, travel records and analysis of military patents, found that the programme continued dur...