The United States has informed its allies that it believes Iran has short-range missiles at Russia for its war in Ukrainesaid two people accustomed to the matter.
They didn’t specify what number of weapons were delivered or when the deliveries might need taken place, but confirmed the U.S. intelligence findings. They spoke on condition of anonymity to debate a matter that has not been publicly disclosed.
The White House declined to verify the arms transfer, but reiterated its concern that Iran is deepening its support for Russia. The White House has Warning to Iran for months not to produce ballistic missiles to Russia.
“Any delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation of Iranian support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and lead to the deaths of more Ukrainian civilians,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a press release. “This partnership threatens European security and demonstrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence extends beyond the Middle East and around the world.”
The US decision comes because the Kremlin tries to fend off Ukraine’s surprise offensive that has led to the capture of some 1,300 kilometers of Russia’s Kursk region. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging his allies to permit his country to make use of Western-made missiles to penetrate deep into Russia and hit targets from which Moscow launches airstrikes.
Iran, because it had previously denied in response to US intelligence findings, had supplied Russia with weapons for the war in Ukraine.
“Iran considers the provision of military support to the parties involved in the conflict – which leads to more casualties, destruction of infrastructure and distancing from ceasefire negotiations – to be inhumane,” said a press release from the Iranian mission to the United Nations. “Therefore, Iran not only refrains from such actions itself, but also calls on other countries to stop supplying weapons to the parties involved in the conflict.”
CIA Director William Burns, who was in London on Saturday for a joint appearance along with his British intelligence colleague, warned against the growing and “worrying” defence relationship Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are involved within the conflict and it threatens each Ukraine and its Western allies within the Middle East.
The White House has repeatedly declassified and published intelligence findings showing that North Korea has supplied munitions and missiles to Russia to be used against Ukraine, while Iran has supplied Moscow with combat drones and helped the Kremlin construct a factory to fabricate drones.
China has held back on arms deliveries to Russia, but has Strong sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technologies that Moscow in turn uses to supply missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weapons, US authorities say.
There has been great nervousness within the White House for months a few possible agreement between Iran and Russia.
The Democratic administration said in January that US intelligence had concluded that an agreement between Russia and Iran had not been reached. At the identical time, officials expressed concern that Russia’s negotiations to accumulate Iranian missiles were actively moving forward.
According to the White House, a senior Russian defense official visited Iran last September to show a variety of ballistic missile systems, heightening U.S. fears that a deal might be reached.
The United States and other countries have taken steps to stop the provision, sale, or transfer of Iran-related ballistic missile goods and products, including issuing guidance to personal firms regarding Iran’s missile procurement practices to be sure that these firms don’t inadvertently support Iran’s development efforts.
President Joe Biden will Host: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for talks on the White House on Friday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said her agenda would come with “continuing robust support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.”
The Wall Street Journal was the primary to report on the US intelligence agency’s findings.
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