Blinken: Iran sending ballistic missiles to Russia

The United States has accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This accusation was made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a visit to London, where he announced that new sanctions against Iran would be implemented. Blinken indicated that Russia has already received these missiles and is expected to deploy them soon, which would allow for attacks on targets further from the front lines. Iran has denied these allegations, asserting that it does not engage in providing military assistance that could exacerbate the conflict. Iranian officials have condemned the claims, stating that the real arms exporters are those accusing Iran. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Tehran is not involved in the war and called for an end to arms supplies to all parties involved. In response to the missile transfers, the UK, France, and Germany have announced new sanctions targeting Iran, including measures against Iran Air. These countries condemned the missile transfers as a significant escalation in the conflict. The sanctions are part of a broader strategy to hold Iran accountable and to deter further military support to Russia. As the situation develops, Ukrainian officials have expressed that while the sanctions are a positive step, they are insufficient. They are calling for more robust military support from Western allies, including longer-range missiles and enhanced air defense systems, to counter the threats posed by Russian military actions fueled by Iranian weaponry.