US believes Iran sent ballistic missiles to Russia

(Washington) The United States has informed its allies that it believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia as part of its war in Ukraine, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The people did not provide details on the number of weapons delivered or the timing of the transfers, but they confirmed the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that has not been publicly disclosed.

The White House declined to confirm the arms transfer, but reiterated its concern that Iran is increasing its support for Russia. The United States has been warning Iran for months against transferring ballistic missiles to Russia.

“Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation of Iran’s support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and would lead to the killing of more Ukrainian civilians,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement.

“This partnership threatens European security and illustrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence extends beyond the Middle East and around the world,” he added.

The U.S. discovery comes as the Kremlin tries to repel Ukraine’s surprise offensive that seized about 1,300 square kilometers of Russia’s Kursk region.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pressuring his allies to allow his country to use Western-supplied missiles to strike inside Russia and reach sites from which Moscow launches airstrikes.

Iran has once again denied supplying Russia with weapons for its war in Ukraine.

“Iran considers military aid to the parties to the conflict, which leads to increased human losses, destruction of infrastructure and a setback to ceasefire negotiations, as inhumane,” read a statement from the Iranian mission to the United Nations.

“Thus, not only does Iran refrain from engaging in such actions itself, but it also calls on other countries to stop supplying weapons to the parties involved in the conflict.”

“Disturbing” relationships

CIA Director William Burns, who was in London on Saturday for a joint briefing with his British counterpart, warned of growing and “troubling” relationships between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea that he said threaten both Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East.

The White House has repeatedly declassified and released information showing that North Korea has sent munitions and missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine, while Iran is supplying Moscow with drones and helping the Kremlin build a drone manufacturing plant.

China has refrained from supplying weapons to the Russians, but it has increased its sales of technological equipment to Russia, which Moscow uses to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weapons, according to U.S. officials.

For months, the United States has been concerned about a possible deal between Iran and Russia.

The Biden administration said in January that U.S. intelligence had determined that a deal between Russia and Iran had not been reached, but that officials were concerned that Russia’s negotiations to acquire missiles from Iran were actively moving forward.

Last September, according to Washington, Iran hosted a senior Russian defense official to demonstrate a range of ballistic missile systems, heightening American concern about the possibility of a deal.

The United States and other countries have taken steps to thwart the sale or transfer of items related to Iran and ballistic missiles, including by providing guidance to private companies on Iranian missile procurement practices to ensure that these companies do not inadvertently support Iran’s efforts.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington on Friday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that “maintaining strong support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression” would be on the agenda.