The White House said Tuesday that Iran may be considering supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine. White House Special Representative John Kirby noted that the United States will closely monitor the situation in relations between Iran and Russia and, if necessary, take appropriate measures.
Kirby recalled that Iran supplied Russia with drones, guided bombs and artillery munitions, which Moscow used to attack Ukraine.
“Iran may be preparing to take another step in support of Russia,” Kirby said. “We… are concerned that Iran is now considering providing ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.” In exchange for this support, she said, Moscow offered Tehran “unprecedented defense cooperation,” including missiles, electronics and air defense systems.
Iran is seeking to buy military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars and combat training aircraft. We are talking about purchases worth billions of dollars.
John Kirby added that a group of Wagner PMC mercenaries, under the direction of Russia, were preparing to provide air defense systems to Hezbollah or Iran. The United States was prepared to use its counterterrorism sanctions authority against Russian individuals and entities that might engage in this “destabilizing trafficking,” Kirby said.
The White House said in May it was seeing growing signs that Russia and Iran were expanding an unprecedented defense partnership that was helping Moscow wage its war in Ukraine and that Tehran was posing threats to its neighbors.