Military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow poses a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry in Kiev said on Saturday. A day earlier, The Wall Street Journal, citing American and European officials, reported that Iran had supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles. The United States and the European Union had previously announced that the move would be met with sanctions.
Foreign Office Ukraine said in a statement on Saturday that it was “deeply concerned by reports of a possible transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv recalled that for more than two years, Ukraine and Ukrainians have been suffering daily from Russian terrorist attacks using all kinds of deadly weapons, including Iranian-made Shahed drones.
The Kiev ministry said that “the deepening military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow poses a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East” and called on the international community to increase pressure on Iran and Russia.
“Finally” several hundred missiles were delivered
On Friday, the American daily “Wall Street Journal” wrote that Iran has delivered short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. It did not indicate when the transfer took place or which specific missiles Russia received, but according to a representative quoted by the newspaper USA “Finally” several hundred missiles were delivered.
Leaders in Washington and other G7 and EU capitals have repeatedly warned for more than a year about a possible sale of Iranian missiles to Russia, saying any such move would be met with a “sharp and swift response.”
According to the WSJ, preparations for imposing coordinated sanctions have already been made this summer, and the US and EU are currently working on finalizing a package. It would include banning Iranian airlines from flying to European airports and imposing restrictions on companies involved in the supply.
Iranian drone Shahed, used by Russia to attack Ukraine. Illustrative photo Shutterstock
The second largest missile supplier after North Korea
The Wall Street Journal wrote that despite earlier announcements of more decisive steps, including the return to sanctions withdrawn after the conclusion of the agreement, Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), European diplomats have been reported to have signaled in recent weeks that “apart from the aviation sector, other economic and banking ties with Iran will not be cut.”
Tehran is the second after North Korea, supplier of ballistic missiles to Russia. Although it is not known what missiles Russia received, previous reports have mentioned Fath 360 and Ababil missiles, which have ranges of up to 120 and 86 km, respectively. The WSJ notes, however, that Tehran also has missiles in its arsenal that can reach up to 800 km.
The transfer of weapons took place at a time when Ukrainian air defense systems are being overloaded by Russian bombing.
Shahed drone attack on Kharkov. Archive footage Prosecutor's Office in Kharkiv/TVN24
To attack the positions of Ukrainian forces
According to the Ukrainian military website Defense Express, if Iran did indeed transfer Fath-360 missiles to Russia, they could be used by Russian forces in combat in eastern Ukraine, to attack Ukrainian military positions, or to attack Ukrainian cities located near the front, such as Pokrovsk, Sumy, or Kharkiv.
PAP, Defense Express, tvn24.pl
Main image source: Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images