Iran war delays US weapon shipments, affecting Estonia’s HIMARS

The ongoing war in Iran has put a hold on weapons deliveries to Estonia, which has resulted in potential delays for HIMARS rocket launcher systems, a representative of the Estonian defence ministry told on Tuesday.

"The Pentagon informed the Estonian Ministry of Defence in advance about potential delays in the delivery of HIMARS munitions," he said.

“Estonia continues to be in close contact on all levels with US counterparts on this issue,” he added.

On Monday, following a call with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said in an interview with the ETV broadcaster that "delays would certainly last longer than weeks, more likely months."

“The initial understanding is that the deal is on hold for as long as the war in Iran continues,” Pevkur said again.

However, he added that if the conflict drags on, the country would certainly have to review its decisions, emphasising that it is already looking around the world and working on possible alternatives.

According to the Estonian defence ministry, the US confirmed its commitment to fulfilling the orders once the situation in the Middle East concludes.

Estonia, formerly occupied by the Soviet Union prior to independence in 1991, has reupped its defence investments following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is one of NATO’s highest spenders in relative terms.