Iranian Built Missiles Supplied to Russia

Iran's supply of ballistic missiles to Russia is causing already difficult relations between Teheran and Ukraine to deteriorate rapidly. Warnings have come from Kiev that Iran will pay a price for taking this step, and it is also asking Western allies to allow it to use the weapons they supply to strike deeper into Russia.

“In response to the supply of ballistic missiles to Russia, Ukraine must be allowed to destroy warehouses storing these missiles with Western weapons in order to avoid terror,” Ukrainian Minister Andrii Yermak said on his Telegram channel.

Additionally, the US, Britain, France and Germany have all imposed fresh sanctions on Iran in response to the move.

Russia has been receiving Shahed drones from Iran for almost two years and has fired hundreds of them at Ukrainian cities. But the Kremlin still tries to cast doubt on reports that it is receiving weapons from Iran.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a statement on Monday which included a remark about the reports of Iranian ballistic missiles being delivered to the Russian armed forces, saying “this kind of information is not true every time.”

Furthermore, he said, “Iran is our important partner. We are developing our trade and economic relations. We are developing our cooperation and dialogue in all possible areas, including the most sensitive ones, and will continue to do so in the interests of the peoples of our two countries.”

For it's part, Iran is flatly denying the reports, with foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani saying “We strongly reject allegations about Iran’s role in sending weapons to one side of the war, and we assess these allegations as politically motivated by some parties."

Elsewhere, CIA Director William Burns warned that the growing military ties between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea were a threat to America and its allies in the Middle East and elsewhere.