WASHINGTON: Any Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Moscow would mark a sharp escalation in the Ukraine conflict, the United States has said, after reports that the two nations had deepened relations in recent weeks with such an arms transfer.
Washington and Moscow
According to Reuters news agency Moscow was expecting the imminent delivery of hundreds of Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles from Tehran and that dozens of Russian military troops were being trained in Iran on the satellite-guided arms for eventual use in the war in conflict.
Short-range missiles have now been provided to Moscow by Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, quoting an unnamed US official.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said that they have been warning of the deepening security relations between Tehran and Moscow since the outset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “and are alarmed by these reports,”.
Potential Iranian-Russian Missile Transfers
“Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Moscow would represent an escalation in Iran’s support for Moscow’s war against Kyiv.” Another US official told Reuters news agency they were keenly watching the potential Iranian-Russian missile transfers.
The potential developments come following Washington and partners, including in Europe, warned that such a measure by Iran could meet with consequences. The Western nations have been watching Tehran and Moscow’s deepening relations in recent months with increasing concern. Iran’s mission to the UN in New York stated on Friday that Iran’s position on the Ukraine war was unchanged.
Tehran and Moscow
“Iran contemplates the provision of defense help to the parties engaged in the war which leads to increased human destruction and a distancing from truce talks to be inhumane,” it stated.
“Thus, not only does Tehran abstain from engaging in such acts itself, but it also calls upon other nations to cease the supply of arms to the sides involved in the war,” the mission further said.
