US Warns Tehran Against Supplying Ballistic Missiles to Russia

The United States says it will unveil new sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran “in the coming days” in retaliation for its arms sales to Russia, and threatened a “severe” response if Tehran moves forward with selling ballistic missiles to Moscow.

“We have not seen any confirmation that missiles have actually moved from Iran to Russia,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on February 22. But he added that at the same time, “we have no reason to believe that they will not follow through.”

Citing Iranian sources, Reuters reported earlier this week that Tehran had provided Russia with around 400 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles since the beginning of the year.

If Tehran moves forward, “the response from the international community will be swift and it will be severe,” Kirby said, adding that the US would take the matter to the UN Security Council, where Russia has a veto.

"We will implement additional sanctions against Iran. And we will coordinate further response options with our allies and partners in Europe and elsewhere," the spokesman said.

Iran has been supplying Russia with a significant number of drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery ammunition, which Russia has been using to attack Ukraine, Kirby said.

"In response to Iran’s ongoing support for Russia’s brutal war, we will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days, and we are prepared to go further if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia," he said.