Last Updated on 10/09/2024 by Arun jain
The United States has formally accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine and will take action. punishment Those involved.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a visit to London, said the US sanctions would be announced later on Tuesday.
“Russia has now received a shipment of these ballistic missiles and will use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukrainians,” Blinken said.
“The supply of Iranian missiles enables Russia to use more of its arsenal against targets that are beyond the front lines.”
Iran has refused to supply Russia with weapons used in the war in Ukraine.
“Iran considers the provision of military assistance to parties involved in the conflict – which leads to human casualties, destruction of infrastructure and distance from ceasefire negotiations – to be inhumane,” a recent statement from Iran’s mission to the United Nations said. .
“Thus, Iran not only refrains from engaging in such actions, but also calls on other countries to stop supplying weapons to parties involved in the conflict.”
“We strongly reject the claims of Iran’s role in exporting arms to one side of the war,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told a news conference on Monday.
“Iran’s accusers are one of the biggest arms exporters on one side of the war,” he added, reiterating that Tehran is “not part of the war” in Ukraine.
While Iran tried to deny the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov failed to make the claim on Monday.
“We have seen this report; It is not every time that such information is correct,” he said.
Iran Already one of the heaviest sanctioning countries in the world, some experts have questioned the benefits of adding more financial penalties.
Additional US sanctions on Iran on Tuesday will include measures against the airline Iran Air, and other countries are expected to announce new measures as well, Blinken said.
The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom also said they strongly condemned the Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia and announced new sanctions targeting air transport.
“We will take immediate steps to cancel bilateral air service agreements with Iran,” the three European countries said in a joint statement, adding that they would “also work towards imposing sanctions on Iran Air”.
Describing sanctions against Iran on missile deliveries as a “positive step”, top Ukrainian presidential official Andriy Yermak said this was not enough.
“We also need authorization for the use of Western weapons against military targets on Russian territory, the provision of long-range missiles and the enhancement of our air defense system,” Yermak said on social media platform X.
The sanctions come as Blinken and Lamy prepare for a joint visit to Ukraine on Wednesday, where they will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials to discuss strengthening the country’s defenses.
Allegations about Iranian missiles led Zelensky to the US. And may encourage other allies to increase pressure to attack Ukraine deep inside Russia and use Western-supplied missiles to launch Moscow airstrikes.
Lammy called Iranian missile transfers to Russia “a troubling pattern that we’re seeing. It is definitely a significant growth. “
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