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The State Department has warned Iran that it will rapidly take action if Iran provides Russia with ballistic missiles for their war in Ukraine.
What’s the deal: Iran is reportedly gearing up to supply Russia with hundreds of satellite-guided ballistic missiles, a move that would significantly boost their military partnership. According to multiple European intelligence sources, Iran plans to ship the missiles to Moscow in the near future. In addition, Iranian military personnel are reportedly training Russian troops on the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system.
Warning from State Department: In a statement, State Department Spokesman Vedant Patel said, “We’ve been warning of the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this partnership threatens European security and illustrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches beyond the Middle East and around the world. As our partners have made clear … we are prepared to deliver together a swift and severe response if Iran were to move forward of the transfer of ballistic missiles, which would in our view represent a dramatic escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
What Iran has previously provided Russia: Since 2022, Iran has transferred weapons to Russia in support of their war in Ukraine. Specifically, Russia has utilized Iran’s Shahed-136 and 131 models of “kamikaze” drones.
Russia returns the favor: Russia has backed Iran by sharing military technology and expertise, especially in air defense and nuclear technology. A key example is Russia’s transfer of advanced air defense systems like the S-300, which has strengthened Iran’s defense capabilities. In addition, some reports claim that Russia is providing technical support to Iran’s nuclear program.
