Over the past year, several senior Russian missile experts have travelled to Iran as the country strengthens its defence ties with Moscow, according to a review of travel records and employment data by Reuters. Documents show that seven weapons specialists were scheduled to fly from Moscow to Tehran on two separate occasions—April 24 and September 17 last year. The passenger list for the second flight confirms their presence.

The booking records show the men's passport numbers, and six out of seven start with "20." This prefix indicates that the passports are issued for official state business, such as government officials traveling for work or military personnel stationed abroad. This information comes from a directive published by the Russian government and a document on the Russian foreign ministry's website. Reuters could not confirm what the seven individuals were doing in Iran. An Iranian defence ministry official said that Russian missile experts visited Iran multiple times last year. They inspected missile production sites, including two underground facilities, with some visits occurring in September.

An official, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, did not reveal the locations. A Western defense official, who tracks Iran's military ties with Russia and also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that in September, a group of Russian missile experts visited an Iranian missile base located about 15 km (9 miles) west of the port of Amirabad on Iran's Caspian Sea coast. Reuters couldn't confirm whether the visitors mentioned by officials included the Russians who arrived on the two flights.

According to Russian databases that track citizens' jobs, tax records, phone details, and vehicle registrations, Reuters identified seven Russians, all with senior military backgrounds. Among them, two hold the rank of colonel, and two are lieutenant colonels. The records show that two are experts in air-defense missile systems, three specialise in artillery and rocketry, one has experience in advanced weapons development, and another has worked at a missile-testing range. However, Reuters couldn't verify if they are still in these roles, as the employment data covers the period from 2021 to 2024.

Their flights to Tehran happened at a tense time for Iran, as it became involved in a back-and-forth conflict with its main rival, Israel. Both countries launched military attacks on each other in April and October. When Reuters called the men, five of them denied visiting Iran, denied working for the military, or both. One refused to comment, and another ended the call. Iran’s defence and foreign ministries, as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (which manages Iran’s ballistic missile program), did not provide a response. Russia’s defence ministry also did not reply to a request for comment. The two countries, whose leaders signed a 20-year military agreement in Moscow in January, are already working together. This cooperation has impacted Russia's war on Ukraine, as many Iranian-designed Shahed drones have been used in the conflict. A group of activist hackers called Hooshyaran-e Vatan, who oppose the Iranian government, showed Reuters flight booking details for seven travelers. According to the hackers, these travelers had VIP status.

Reuters confirmed this information using the Russian passenger list for the September flight, provided by a source with access to Russian state databases. However, since Reuters couldn’t obtain a passenger list for the earlier flight, it couldn’t verify whether the five Russian specialists actually travelled on it. 

Five Russian weapons experts had their seats booked together on an April flight, according to records. Denis Kalko, 48, was linked to the defence ministry's Academy for Military Anti-Aircraft Defence, based on 2021 tax records. Vadim Malov, 46, worked for a military unit that trains anti-aircraft missile forces, as indicated by 2024 car ownership records. The group also included Andrei Gusev, 45, Alexander Antonov, 43, and Marat Khusainov, 54. Gusev, a lieutenant colonel, serves as deputy head of the General Purpose Rockets and Artillery Munitions faculty at the Penza Artillery Engineering Institute, as mentioned in a 2021 news report. Antonov has been associated with the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Defence Ministry, as per 2024 car registration records. Bank data reveals that Khusainov, a colonel, has worked at the Kapustin Yar missile-testing range.

According to Russian border crossing records seen by Reuters, Fedosov had also travelled from Tehran to Moscow in October 2023. Like his flight in September 2024, he used his official state business passport on that trip as well.