2 minutes agoUS warns Iran not to send ballistic missiles to Russia
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Washington has warned Tehran of the rapid and tough “consequences if reports are confirmed that it is planning to send hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia. “We are prepared for a quick and harsh response if Iran sent ballistic missiles, which in our opinion would represent a dramatic escalation of support [...]
“We are prepared for a quick and harsh response if Iran were to send ballistic missiles, which in our opinion would represent a dramatic escalation of Iran's support for the fight of Russia's aggression against Ukraine”, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
The warning coincided with a warning issued earlier this year by the US, after Reuters quoted six unidentified sources reported that Iran had sent “a large number” of powerful land-earth ballistic missiles to Russia.
The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Tehran's ballistic missile programme following concerns that these types of weapons Iran can send to allies and collaborators in the Middle East and Russia, so Moscow uses against Ukraine.
Russia lacks weapons, as it continues its invasion of Ukraine which began in 2022, and is facing massive losses of troops and military equipment, prompting it to search for allies like Iran and North Korea to fill up weapons stocks.
On February 22nd, the US also warned Iran of quick and harsh “response from the international community whether Tehran would provide Russian ballistic missiles.
US national security spokesman John Kirby said the world had not yet confirmed whether missiles had been transferred from Iran and Russia, but added that this report appears to be accurate.
Tehran has offered Russia fears, bombs and ammunition for artillery, according to US and Ukrainian officials following numerous evidence of the use of Shahed fears of Iranian production in attacks on Ukraine, prompting Western states to impose additional sanctions.
Iranian “Offices have also continued to deny they have offered any fears to Russia, despite the evidence that Russia is evident that they are constantly afraid during attacks against civilians in Ukraine, against civil infrastructure”, Patel told reporters.
Iran's new president, Masud Pnezkian, who is widely considered a reformist, has spoken of the hope of improving reports with the West, but Patel expressed scepticism.
In January, The UN, along with the EU and other states, had issued a similar warning to North Korea regarding sending weapons to Russia. / REL
