US and Britain Accuse Iran of Supplying Missiles to Russia for Ukraine

LONDON (AP) — On Tuesday, the United States and Britain formally accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. This accusation came ahead of a joint visit to Kyiv by the top diplomats from both nations.

During a press conference in London, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, stated that Iran had disregarded warnings that such transfers would escalate the conflict significantly.

Blinken elaborated that numerous Russian military personnel had received training in Iran to operate the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles (120 kilometers).

“Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and is likely to use them within weeks in Ukraine, targeting Ukrainian forces,” said Blinken. “The provision of Iranian missiles allows Russia to utilize more of its arsenal against objectives further away from the front lines.”

This development occurs as the Kremlin aims to counter Ukraine’s unexpected offensive, which has resulted in the loss of hundreds of square miles of territory in Russia’s Kursk region. The accusations might empower Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to call for increased support from the U.S. and other allies for further strikes into Russian territory.

The Iranian foreign ministry has denied providing ballistic missiles to Russia, as reported by the semiofficial ISNA news agency.

“Claims regarding the transfer of Iranian weapons to various nations are merely propaganda aimed at obscuring the substantial illegal weaponry support provided by the U.S. and some Western nations in the Gaza Strip,” said Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for the ministry.

In the broader context, the U.S., U.K., and other Western allies continue to advocate for a cease-fire aimed at halting the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. They are also wary of escalating attacks from Iranian proxies in the region, which could ignite a wider war.

In a concerted effort, Britain, France, and Germany announced new sanctions against Iran and Russia, labeling the missile transfers as “a direct threat to European security.” These sanctions include the termination of air service agreements with Iran, thereby restricting Iran Air’s operations to the U.K. and Germany.

Additionally, both Britain and the United States have implemented sanctions against individuals involved in supplying Iranian drones and missiles to Russia. These sanctions target two high-ranking officers in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a senior defense ministry official, several businesses, and four Russian cargo ships alleged to have transported supplies from Iran to Russia. Three Russian military units associated with aviation and aerospace have also been sanctioned.

Over the past few years, the U.S. Treasury and State Department have imposed economic sanctions on individuals and companies from Iran, China, Russia, Turkey, and other nations alleged to be linked to the development of Iran’s drone program.

Even as Iranian officials deny the export of drones tied to Russia’s war efforts, sanctions related to the transfer of Iranian drone technology to Russia were issued in November 2022.

These sanctions restrict individuals’ and businesses’ access to financial assets in the U.S. and prevent American entities from engaging in business with them.

The formal accusations and sanctions precede the visit by Blinken and Lammy to Kyiv, where they will meet with Zelenskyy and others to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The joint visit was announced well in advance, signaling a clear show of support for Ukraine as a harsh winter of potential Russian assaults looms.

When asked if the U.S. would permit its supplied weapons to be used for strikes deeper into Russia, Blinken emphasized that all military actions must align with an overarching strategy.

He added that the purpose of the upcoming visit is “to hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership, including President Zelenskyy, regarding their immediate needs, objectives, and how we can best support them.”

President Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to engage in self-defense by using U.S.-provided missiles across the border into Russia but has limited the operational range to avoid further escalation. Biden is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Friday, with Ukraine’s defense assistance prominent on the agenda.

“We will be paying close attention to our Ukrainian partners, and we both will report back to the prime minister and President Biden in the coming days,” Blinken said.

While discussions unfold, Ukraine continues to employ its own weaponry to target deeper Russian infrastructure, having launched one of its most extensive drone attacks on Russian territory in the war’s 2.5-year history, affecting multiple areas, including Moscow.

Reports of the alleged missile transfers from Iran began circulating over the weekend. Lammy described these actions as part of a “troubling pattern,” highlighting them as a significant escalation in the conflict.

The U.S. and its allies have been warning Iran against transferring ballistic missiles to Russia for months. On Saturday, CIA Director William Burns expressed concerns regarding the growing defense collaboration among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, labeling it a threat to both Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East.

The White House has consistently declassified and released intelligence indicating that North Korea has supplied ammunition and missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. Concurrently, Iran has been known to provide Moscow with attack drones and assist in establishing a drone-manufacturing facility.

Though China has not provided weaponry to Russia, it has increased sales of essential technologies to Moscow, which are vital for producing missiles and other military equipment.

Source: Associated Press