US and Britain accuse Iran of supplying missiles to Russia for Ukraine

LONDON — On Tuesday, the United States and Britain officially accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The allies have stated they will take decisive measures against those involved in these transfers.

During a joint press conference in London, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed their strong concerns over this development. Blinken emphasized that Iran disregarded previous warnings regarding the transfer of these weapons, which could lead to significant escalation in the conflict.

“Russia has received shipments of these ballistic missiles and is likely to deploy them within weeks against the Ukrainian forces,” Blinken remarked. He further added that the supply of Iranian missiles would enable Russia to extend its operations beyond the front lines.

Shortly after their statements, a joint declaration was issued by the United States, Britain, and Germany. The declaration labeled the missile transfers as “a direct threat to European security” and outlined that penalties against Iran would be imposed, including the cancellation of bilateral air service agreements and sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Iran’s ballistic missile operations. The allies also expressed intentions to target Iran Air with sanctions.

Over the past few years, the U.S. Treasury and State Department have enacted economic sanctions on various individuals and companies from Iran, China, Russia, Turkey, and other nations tied to the development of Iran’s drone program, with sanctions dating back as far as November 2022, despite Iranian officials denying allegations of supplying drones to Russia.

These sanctions have significant implications, barring access to U.S. financial assets and restricting U.S. businesses and citizens from engaging with those affected.

The announcement of new sanctions coincides with Blinken and Lammy’s scheduled trip to Ukraine, where they plan to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-ranking officials. The meetings will focus on strategies to bolster Ukraine’s defenses as the Russian military attempts to counter Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region.

The accusation of missile transfers could lead Zelenskyy to increase pressure on the U.S. and other allies to permit Ukraine to utilize Western-supplied missiles against deeper Russian targets. President Joe Biden has previously authorized the use of U.S.-provided missiles for self-defense but has imposed restrictions regarding the range due to concerns about escalating the conflict further.

Despite these limitations, Ukraine has conducted its own operations targeting deeper Russian positions, including a significant drone attack on Russian territory that occurred recently, impacting multiple regions including Moscow.

The rare announcement of Blinken and Lammy’s joint visit to Kyiv aims to publicly demonstrate U.S.-U.K. support for Ukraine as the nation braces for what is expected to be a harsh winter filled with Russian assaults. This visit will be succeeded by a meeting at the White House on Friday involving Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with a focus on supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.

When pressed on whether the U.S. would allow the use of supplied weapons against targets in Russia, Blinken reiterated the importance of having a cohesive strategy. He highlighted the main goal of the upcoming visit was to gather insights directly from the Ukrainian leadership regarding their current needs and objectives.

“We will be listening intently to our Ukrainian partners and will report back to our leaders,” Blinken stated. He conveyed that this matter would likely be addressed during the upcoming meeting between Biden and Starmer.

Speculations about missile transfers from Iran began circulating over the weekend as reports emerged from U.S. intelligence sources indicating that preparations were underway, according to anonymous officials familiar with the situation.

Lammy described the missile transfers as a continuation of “a troubling pattern” and confirmed that it represents a meaningful escalation in hostilities.

Despite allegations, Iran has firmly denied providing military aid to Russia for its conflict in Ukraine. They issued a statement asserting that military support to those engaged in the conflict exacerbates human suffering and hinders efforts toward ceasefire negotiations.

For months, the U.S. and its allies have cautioned Iran against transferring ballistic missiles to Russia, highlighting the growing and concerning defense collaboration between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as a threat to both Ukraine and Western interests in the Middle East.

The White House has also revealed intelligence showing that North Korea has been supplying missiles and munitions to Russia in support of its military actions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Iran has been accused of providing drones and assisting in the establishment of drone manufacturing capabilities in Russia.

Although China has refrained from directly supplying weaponry to Russia, it has significantly increased sales of critical technology that Moscow utilizes to enhance its military production.

Source: AP