Test of an Iranian ballistic missile (Anatolia-Archive)
Western powers have escalated their warnings to Iran about the consequences of sending ballistic missiles and advanced military technologies to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
Washington has not confirmed whether Iran has already sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, but the British newspaper the Financial Times on Sunday quoted a senior US administration official as saying that Iranian-Russian negotiations regarding these missiles are “actively progressing.”
The American official - whose name was not mentioned by the newspaper - added that there is a "real danger" that shipments of missiles have already been sent.
The G7 leaders warned in a joint statement, the day before yesterday, Friday, that "if Iran continues to provide ballistic missiles or related technology to Russia, we are ready to respond quickly and in a coordinated manner, including taking new and significant measures against Iran."
Western leaders expressed grave concern about “reports that Iran is considering transferring ballistic missiles and related technology (to Russia).”
The statement added: “We call on Iran to refrain from doing so, because it will further destabilize regional stability and represent a major escalation in its support for the Russian war in Ukraine,” noting that Tehran provided Moscow with drones that it used against civilians, according to Western allegations.
Among the sanctions that the West is considering imposing on Iran is banning the flights of the national airline Iran Air to Europe, according to the Financial Times.
Last month, Reuters quoted sources as saying that Iran had supplied Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, as part of deepening military cooperation between the two countries subject to US sanctions.
Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters + Financial Times