US confirms Russia received missiles from Iran, imposes new sanctions

At a press conference in London before visiting Kyiv with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had sent a message to Iran warning that providing ballistic missiles to Russia would be considered a "serious escalation".

Citing intelligence, Blinken said: "Russia has received several aid packages containing these ballistic missiles and may use them against Ukraine in the coming weeks."

On the US Treasury Department's website, the US government named nine Russian-flagged vessels, claiming they were involved in the transfer of weapons from Iran to Russia, identifying them as "prohibited targets" under Washington's sanctions policy.

The administration has also imposed additional sanctions on Iran Air, as well as companies and individuals involved in military cooperation between Iran and Russia.

Mr. Blinken said that Iran has trained dozens of Russian military personnel to use the Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile system, a system with an attack range of 121 km.

Last month, Reuters reported that the Russian defense ministry reportedly signed a contract in December 2023 with Iranian officials to purchase the Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system from Iran.

Iran has supplied Shahed drones used by Russia in the war in Ukraine, but has denied that it has supplied ballistic missiles to Russia. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani wrote on X on Tuesday that the report was “malicious propaganda” intended to cover up Western military aid to Israel.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday declined to confirm the report, but said Russia cooperates with Iran in many areas including some that are "highly sensitive."

After two and a half years of fighting, Ukrainian forces are stretched thin as Russia continues to advance in eastern Ukraine. Last month, Kyiv launched its first large-scale offensive into Russian territory.

Mr. Blinken said that Iranian missiles could be used against short-range targets, allowing Russia to use its existing arsenal for longer-range targets.

Mr Blinken said Russia, which has ratified UN sanctions against Iran, is also sharing some of the technology Tehran wants. “It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, both in the nuclear area and in some aspects of battlefield intelligence.”

Journey through the Caspian

The US Treasury Department and the US State Department have imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and nine entities in Iran and Russia, the US Treasury Department said.

Photo: Office of the President of Iran/WANA/Via Reuters/File photo.

The sanctions freeze the US assets of these individuals and entities, and generally prohibit US individuals and entities from doing business with them.

Among the targets in the sanctions announced on Tuesday were several ships that regularly ferry cargo through the Caspian Sea between Iran and Russia, including the Port Olya-3, a vessel owned by Russia's MG-FLOT company that is used to transport short-range ballistic missiles.

The ship has traveled multiple times through the Caspian Sea between the Russian port of Olya and the Iranian port of Amirabad from May to August this year, based on ship tracking data.

The US State Department also said Iran Air was sanctioned for its role in procuring sensitive goods from the West and transporting materials for Iran's drone program.

France, Germany and Britain said they had canceled air services agreements with Iran and pledged to impose sanctions on Iran Air and individuals or entities linked to Iran's ballistic missile program or arms supplies to Russia.

Britain has announced seven new sanctions against Iran and three new sanctions against Russia.

The European Union EU has also pledged a "robust response".

David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and International Security, said he believes that the sanctions will not have much effect in preventing cooperation between Iran and Russia, because Tehran considers building strong relations with Moscow and Beijing to be the most beneficial decision for this regime politically and economically.

Mr. Blinken's visit

Ukraine, which has said it could sever diplomatic ties with Tehran if Russia uses Iranian weapons, welcomed the sanctions but also said they were not enough.

Head of the Ukrainian presidential office Andriy Yermak reaffirmed that Kyiv is looking to Washington for permission to use US-supplied weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.

The Pentagon has insisted that Ukraine be allowed to use US-supplied weapons to respond to attacks from Russia, a policy that could theoretically allow Ukraine to strike Iranian missiles that are about to launch.

Mr. Blinken said he would visit Ukraine on Wednesday to receive first-hand information about the needs and tasks of the Ukrainian leadership and to outline actions the United States can take to help.

Mr Blinken and Mr Lammy will visit Kyiv together to show Western support for the government. Mr Blinken will also visit Poland on Thursday.

Nguyen Quang Minh (According to Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/my-khang-dinh-nga-nhan-ten-lua-tu-iran-dua-ra-lenh-trung-phat-moi-204240911082904092.htm