The United States announced on Tuesday new sanctions on ships and businesses it claimed were involved in supplying Moscow with Iranian weapons. It also stated that Moscow had received ballistic missiles from Iran in exchange for its involvement in the war in Ukraine.
At a press briefing in London, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Washington has privately warned Iran. He stated that supplying Russia with ballistic missiles would be considered “a dramatic escalation.”
“Russia has now received shipments with these ballistic missiles, and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukraine,” Blinken said, citing intelligence that he said has been shared with U.S. allies and partners around the world.
The U.S. later identified nine Russian-flagged vessels involved in transferring weapons from Iran to Russia, according to the Treasury Department website. It designated these vessels as “blocked property” under Washington’s sanctions regime.
The government announced it has placed new sanctions on businesses and individuals involved in the military collaboration between the two nations. This includes Iran Air, an airline that had already been sanctioned.
According to Blinken, Iran has trained dozens of Russian military experts to operate the 75-mile (121-kilometer) maximum-range Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system.
According to a Reuters report published last month, Russian military representatives are believed to have struck a deal with Iranian authorities in December. The agreement involved the Fath-360 and another Iranian ballistic missile system.
Although Iran has denied providing Russia with ballistic missiles, it had previously supplied Russia with Shahed drones that it utilized in Ukraine. Speaking on X on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated that Iran sees the accusations as “ugly propaganda” meant to hide Western military assistance to Israel.
On Monday, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, told reporters that although Russia was working with Iran on “the most sensitive” sectors, it was refusing to corroborate the reports.
Stretched thin after two and a half years of fighting, Ukrainian soldiers are currently halting a steady Russian advance in eastern Ukraine. The month prior, Kyiv launched its first significant cross-border military invasion into Russia.
According to Blinken, Russia can deploy more of its own weapons for targets farther from the front line by using the Iranian missiles on closer targets.
He said that Russia, which had previously ratified UN sanctions against Iran, was also providing Tehran with technology. “This is a two-way street, including on nuclear issues as well as some space information,” Blinken said.
CASPIAN VOYAGES
According to the Treasury, nine organizations and ten people with addresses in Russia and Iran were the targets of sanctions from the State Department and the Treasury.
The sanctions prevent Americans from doing business with the targeted parties and freeze any American assets they may have.
The Treasury claimed that ships that frequently transfer goods between Iran and Russia across the Caspian Sea were among the penalties imposed on Tuesday. Among these ships was the Port Olya-3, which belonged to the Russian company MG-FLOT and was used to transport close-range ballistic missiles.
Ship monitoring data shows that the vessel traveled multiple times between the Iranian port of Amirabad and the Russian Caspian port of Olya. This occurred between May and August of this year.
According to the State Department, Iran Air was targeted because it transported supplies for Iran’s drone program. It was also involved in procuring sensitive products from Western countries.
France, Germany, and Britain announced that they were terminating their aviation services agreements with Iran. In addition, they pledged to apply penalties to Iran Air, participants in Iran’s ballistic missile program, and suppliers of armaments to Russia.
Britain issued three fresh sanctions designations for Russia and seven new sanctions designations for Iran.
Additionally, the EU promised a “strong response.”
David Albright, chairman of the research group at the Institute for Science and International Security, expressed doubt about the new sanctions. He believes they will not stop Iran’s collaboration with Russia, as Tehran views closer ties with Beijing and Moscow as politically and economically advantageous.
Former U.N. nuclear inspector Albright stated, “They will have some impact on shipping companies and vessels, but others can move in.”
BLINKEN VISIT
Ukraine praised the penalties but claimed they were insufficient, threatening to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran should Russia employ missiles provided by Iran.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the president, reaffirmed that Kyiv was asking Washington for permission to use weaponry it had received from the United States farther inside Russia.
According to the Pentagon, Ukraine can utilize American weaponry to retaliate against Russian fire. This means that, in theory, Ukrainian forces might attack Iranian missiles that are getting ready to launch.
Blinken declared that he would use his Wednesday trip to Ukraine to ask the country’s leaders about their goals and needs. He also planned to discuss how the United States can support them.
Together, Blinken and Lammy will make a visit to demonstrate the Western world’s unanimity in backing Kiev. Poland will host Blinken on Thursday as well, according to the State Department.
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