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Ballistic missiles for Russia, US warns Iran

Politiko 2024-08-12 22:39:38

Ballistic missiles for Russia, US warns Iran

Washington has warned Tehran of "swift and severe" consequences if reports are confirmed that it is planning to send hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.

"We are prepared for a quick and tough response if Iran were to send the ballistic missiles, which in our view would represent a dramatic escalation of Iran's support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," the spokesman told reporters. US Department of State, Vedant Patel.

The warning coincides with one issued earlier this year by the US, after Reuters - citing six unnamed sources - reported that Iran had sent "a large number" of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles to Russia.

The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Tehran's ballistic missile program after concerns that Iran could send these types of weapons to allies and partners in the Middle East and Russia for Moscow to use against Ukraine. .

Russia is short of weapons as it continues its invasion of Ukraine - which it began in 2022 - and is also facing heavy losses of troops and military equipment, prompting it to look to allies such as Iran and North Korea for weapons to replenish weapon stocks.

On February 22, the US also warned Iran of a "swift and severe" response from the international community if Tehran provided ballistic missiles to Russia.

US national security spokesman John Kirby said at the time that Washington had not yet confirmed whether missiles had been transferred from Iran and Russia, but added that the reporting appeared to be accurate.

Tehran has provided Russia with drones, bombs and artillery munitions, according to US and Ukrainian officials after widespread evidence of the use of Iranian-made Shahed drones in attacks on Ukraine, prompting Western countries to impose additional sanctions.

"Iranian officials have also continued to deny that they have provided any drones to Russia, even though the evidence is clear that Russia uses these drones repeatedly in attacks against civilians in Ukraine, against civilian infrastructure," Patel told reporters.

Iran's new president, Masud Pezeshkian, widely regarded as a reformist, has spoken of the hope of improving relations with the West, but Patel expressed skepticism.

In January, DASH, together with the EU and other countries, issued a similar warning to North Korea regarding the delivery of weapons to Russia./ REL/

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