Iran will face new sanctions on Tuesday delivery of ballistic missiles to RussiaSecretary of State Antony Blinken announced.
During a joint press conference in London with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken said he expects Russia to use the missiles against Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Blinken called Iran’s decision to move the missiles to Moscow “a dramatic escalation.”
“We have warned Tehran publicly, we have warned Tehran privately, that taking this step would constitute a dramatic escalation. Dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to use the FATH-360 short-range ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles. Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them in Ukraine within weeks,” Blinken said.
Blinken explained that Iranian missiles will give Russia “additional capability” and “additional flexibility,” explaining that Russia can now use its own arsenal to hit targets beyond the front lines, while using Iran’s short-range missiles to hit closer targets.
Iran has already supplied Russia with hundreds of drones that Russian forces have used in their war against Ukraine, and Russia is building a drone production facility in the country with help from Iran, CNN reported. Iran has also trained Russia in the use of drones.
In exchange for the new missiles, Russia will provide Iran with technology “including nuclear issues, as well as some space information,” Blinken said, calling the relationship a “two-way street.”
“As Iran’s destabilizing activities spread, so does Russia’s, sowing further uncertainty in their regions and around the world. Over the past several days, we have shared the intelligence behind these findings with our allies and partners, and have worked together to ensure that Tehran’s actions will have significant economic consequences,” Blinken said.
The new sanctions include additional measures against Iran Air, the national airline, Blinken said. “Anyone who proves they are helping Russia … is perpetuating the war, perpetuating the conflict,” he added.
Lammy also called Iran’s actions “a disturbing pattern” and “a significant escalation.”
Blinken and Lammy said they would make a joint visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev later this week. Lammy described it as the “first joint visit of this kind in over a decade.”
CNN previously reported that the shipment of Iranian missiles had arrived in Russia. Iranian officials have denied sending missiles to Russia.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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