The United States, along with the UK, France, and Germany, have announced sanctions on Iran for allegedly supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to use in the war in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Iran of enabling Russia to use more of its arsenal against targets further from the front line. Iran has denied these accusations, labeling them as inhumane and calling for an end to the supply of weapons to the conflict. Despite Iran’s denial, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not refute the report.
Additional US sanctions on Iran will include measures against Iran Air, with other countries expected to follow suit. France, Germany, and the UK also condemned Iranian transfers of ballistic missiles to Russia and announced new sanctions targeting air transport.
Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak welcomed the sanctions but called for authorization to use Western weapons against military targets on Russian territory. The accusations about Iranian missiles could lead Ukraine to push for further military support from the US and allies.
Blinken and Lammy are set to visit Ukraine to discuss bolstering the country’s defenses. Lammy described the Iranian missile transfers as a troubling escalation. Overall, Iran’s alleged involvement in the war in Ukraine has sparked international condemnation and calls for stronger sanctions and military support for Ukraine.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
