Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a “dramatic escalation” of Tehran’s support for Moscow, and the United States is prepared to respond with “significant consequences,” the State Department said Monday.
“Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation of Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. “We are clear … that we are prepared to bring about significant consequences,” he said.
A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied reports that Iran is transferring missiles to Russia, Iranian media reported on Monday, amid concern in the West that they could be deployed in the war in Ukraine.
CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing unidentified sources, that Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
Brigadier General Fazlollah Nozari, deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbia headquarters, was quoted by the Iranian Labor Agency as saying: “No missile was sent to Russia and this claim is a kind of psychological warfare.”
“Iran does not support any of the parties in the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” Nozari said.
Asked about the reports on Monday, the Kremlin said Iran is Russia’s partner and the two countries are developing dialogue in all areas.
Ukraine said last week that 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.
Any Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia would mean a sharp escalation in the Ukraine war, the United States said on Friday.
Tehran and Moscow have grown closer since Russia ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, with Iran supplying Shahed drones to the Russian military.
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