diff --git a/data/lua/core.lua b/data/lua/core.lua
index d4746e15bf8..d4431b7d0d6 100644
--- a/data/lua/core.lua
+++ b/data/lua/core.lua
@@ -36,6 +36,27 @@ function stringx.anim_split(str, sep)
 	return stringx.split(str, sep, {expand_anim = true, strip_spaces = true, remove_empty = true});
 end
 
+function stringx.iter_range(str)
+	return coroutine.wrap(function()
+		local lo, hi = stringx.parse_range(str)
+		for i = lo, hi do
+			coroutine.yield(i)
+		end
+	end)
+end
+
+function stringx.iter_ranges(str)
+	return coroutine.wrap(function()
+		local split = str:split()
+		for _,s in ipairs(split) do
+			local lo, hi = s:parse_range()
+			for i = lo, hi do
+				coroutine.yield(i)
+			end
+		end
+	end)
+end
+
 --[========[Config Manipulation Functions]========]
 
 local function ensure_config(cfg)
diff --git a/src/scripting/lua_kernel_base.cpp b/src/scripting/lua_kernel_base.cpp
index 3b95dcb7f43..425e6de3104 100644
--- a/src/scripting/lua_kernel_base.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/lua_kernel_base.cpp
@@ -720,6 +720,19 @@ static int intf_str_trim(lua_State* L)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Parses a range string of the form a-b into an interval pair
+ * Accepts the string "infinity" as representing a Very Large Number
+ */
+static int intf_parse_range(lua_State* L)
+{
+	const std::string str = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
+	auto interval = utils::parse_range(str);
+	lua_pushnumber(L, interval.first);
+	lua_pushnumber(L, interval.second);
+	return 2;
+}
+
 static int intf_get_language(lua_State* L)
 {
 	lua_push(L, get_language().localename);
@@ -968,6 +981,7 @@ lua_kernel_base::lua_kernel_base()
 		{ "join",                &intf_str_join },
 		{ "join_map",            &intf_str_join_map },
 		{ "trim",                &intf_str_trim },
+		{ "parse_range",         &intf_parse_range },
 		{ "vformat",                  &intf_format                   },
 		{ "format_conjunct_list",     &intf_format_list<true>        },
 		{ "format_disjunct_list",     &intf_format_list<false>       },