The Pentagon said Iran's supply of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia was “deeply disturbing,” threatening European security and indicating that Iran's destabilizing efforts were extending beyond the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday that the missiles had been transferred between the two countries, adding that Russia would “likely use them in Ukraine within the coming weeks.”
“Iran's missile supplies will allow Russia to focus more of its weapons on targets further from the front lines, allowing it to devote the new missiles it receives from Iran to other purposes. [for] “It's a target closer to home,” Blinken said during a visit to London where he met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Blinken also made clear that Iran would face retaliatory measures over the transfer and said the US planned to announce further sanctions against Iran later the same day.
Blinken acknowledges Iran is supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia
Pentagon spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Tuesday that it was “very concerning” that Iran was supplying short-range missiles to Russia. (Pentagon Live Feed)
At a press conference on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters that the Pentagon echoed the State Department's position.
“This is a deeply worrying development. Iranian-Russian collaboration threatens European security and demonstrates that Iran's destabilizing influence extends beyond the Middle East and around the world,” Ryder said. “We will continue to monitor these developments with our allies and partners in Europe and the Middle East and remain steadfast in our support for helping to protect Ukraine from the threat these missile systems pose to its people.”
The missiles have a range of about 75 miles, Ryder said, describing them as “short- or short-range.”
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Smoke rises into the sky in Kiev, Ukraine, after a Russian attack on July 8. (AP Photo/Evgeny Maloretka)
The spokesman said the missile would give Russia the ability to attack civilians while maintaining a long-range capability across the battlefield.
He also told reporters that the Pentagon believes several dozen Russian military personnel have received training in Iran on how to use the missile systems, but did not provide specific information about the exact number of missiles.
“I haven't seen them hire them yet,” Ryder said, adding that he's keeping an eye on developments.
The Pentagon said intelligence showed that in exchange for the missiles, the two countries were sharing information about Russia's nuclear program, space programs and other technological capabilities that Iran wants.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boarded a flight to London from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Monday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog, warned on Monday that Iran has been advancing its nuclear program unchecked over the past three and a half years, increasing its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a level of 60 percent purity – just shy of weapons-grade uranium, which is 90 percent pure.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said he had asked Iran's new President Massoud Pezechkian, who has expressed an interest in working with Western countries to ease sanctions against Iran, to meet “in the not-too-distant future” to establish a “constructive dialogue”.
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But Blinken warned on Tuesday that backing Russia in its deadly war against Ukraine would have devastating consequences for Tehran.
“Iran's new president and foreign minister have repeatedly said they want to restore relations with Europe,” Blinken told reporters on Tuesday. “They want sanctions lifted. Destabilizing actions like this will have the exact opposite effect.”
Fox News' Caitlin McFaul contributed to this report.
