US warns Iran not to give Russia ballistic missiles

2024-03-15 18:26:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States and allies have warned Iran that major Western economies will impose new sanctions on Tehran if it pushes ahead with a plan to provide ballistic missiles to Russia for Moscow's war against Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden's administration has for months raised the alarm that Russia is seeking short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, as Moscow faces challenges replenishing its arms supply.

The US has not yet confirmed that the missiles were sent from Iran to Russia. But US officials have been alarmed by statements from Iranian officials suggesting that a deal on the matter will happen soon.

One move the world's Group of Seven (G7) largest economies is working on is to ban Iran Air — the state-owned airline — from flying to Europe, a senior Biden administration official said. This official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not indicate what sanctions could be imposed on Tehran, but said that a possible decision could be described as "significant measures" against Iran.

The US and Europe have already imposed tough sanctions on Iran, targeting individuals but also limiting the state's access to trade, financial services, energy, technology and other sectors. The sanctions against Iran are the toughest the US has ever imposed on any country, as thousands of individuals and entities have been targeted.

In January, the Biden administration said that US intelligence officials had determined that the Russia-Iran deal was not yet complete, but there were concerns that Russia's negotiations to acquire missiles from Iran were actively advancing.

In September, according to the White House, Iran hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to show him ballistic missile systems.

The US and other countries have taken steps aimed at preventing the supply, sale or transfer of equipment for Iran's ballistic missiles.

The Biden administration has repeatedly raised the issue that the Kremlin has become dependent on Iran and North Korea for the weapons it needs to fight Ukraine.

Russia has received and used North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials, however, have said that North Korean missiles fired by Russian forces often miss their targets.

Russia has also received attack drones from Iran, according to the White House. The Biden administration has also accused Tehran of supplying Russia with the necessary materials for the production of drones at a factory east of Moscow./ Rel