US warns of ‘severe’ response if Iran transfers ballistic missiles to Russia

The United States warned Iran on Monday against sending ballistic missiles to Russia, saying it would invoke a “severe” US response and would counter efforts by Tehran to improve relations.

The United States has been in touch with European allies on reports that Iran is “planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

“We are prepared to deliver a swift and severe response if Iran were to move forward with 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,” he said.

Citing two European intelligence sources, Reuters reported on Friday that dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system. They added that they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Russia has been turning to countries under international sanctions, including North Korea, for military equipment to support its operations in Ukraine.

The United States has previously imposed sanctions on suppliers of Iranian drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia.

“Iranian officials also continue to deny providing any UAVs to Russia when evidence is plain for the world to see that Russia has used these UAVs in relentless attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine, against civilian infrastructure,” Patel said.

He noted that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a reformist within the clerical state, had campaigned with hopes of improving relations with the United States and European countries.

“This duplicity is only the latest reminder to the international community that the Iranian regime lacks in credibility,” he said.