Tue Sep 10 13:52:00 UTC 2024: ## US and UK Accuse Iran of Supplying Missiles to Russia, Announce New Sanctions

**LONDON** – The United States and Britain have formally accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing war against Ukraine. The accusation was made Tuesday by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a joint visit to London. They announced new sanctions on both Moscow and Tehran, further escalating tensions between the West and the two nations.

Blinken stated that Iran ignored warnings about the potential escalation of the conflict by transferring these weapons. He revealed that dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to operate the Fath-360 missile system, which has a range of 75 miles. “Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukrainians,” Blinken warned.

The accusations come as Ukraine continues a surprise offensive, reclaiming territory in the Russian Kursk region. This development could bolster Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s demands for Western-supplied missiles to strike deeper into Russia, potentially targeting Moscow’s launch sites.

While Iran’s foreign ministry vehemently denies supplying ballistic missiles, the US and UK have imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the transfer of Iranian drones and missiles. These sanctions target senior officers in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a defense ministry official, as well as several businesses and Russian cargo ships.

In addition to the missile accusations, the US and UK have also criticized Iran’s ongoing drone production, which they allege is used by Russia in the conflict. These accusations stem from intelligence findings that indicate North Korea has sent ammunition and missiles to Russia, while Iran is actively supplying attack drones and assisting Moscow in building a drone-manufacturing factory.

The US and UK have also called for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, urging Iran to refrain from escalating tensions through its proxies in the region.

The latest accusations and sanctions against Iran and Russia come ahead of Blinken and Lammy’s visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, where they will meet with Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials to discuss further support for Ukraine’s defense. This joint visit is seen as a public signal of US-UK support for Ukraine, particularly ahead of a potentially brutal winter of Russian attacks.

The US has allowed Ukraine to fire US-provided missiles into Russia in self-defense, but has largely limited the range of these weapons. However, with the alleged Iranian missile transfer, the US and UK are facing growing pressure from Ukraine to provide more advanced weapons for a more aggressive defense against Russia.

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