Iran has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles for use in its war against Ukraine despite months of warnings from US and European officials urging Tehran not to do so, Bloomberg reported based on sources familiar with the matter.
The transfer of missiles marks a significant escalation in Iran's support for Moscow's military campaign. Washington has briefed its allies on the evidence of this development, which is expected to trigger additional sanctions from the US and European Union against Iran, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
While Iran has reportedly provided Russia with hundreds of drones since the invasion of Ukraine began over two years ago, the supply of ballistic missiles represents a deeper level of involvement in the conflict. The US National Security Council has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the missile transfer. Last week, Bloomberg had reported that European officials anticipated Iran would imminently deliver missiles to Russia.
In response to inquiries from Bloomberg, Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations issued a statement asserting that the country's stance on the "Ukraine conflict remains unchanged" and that it does not provide military assistance to any parties involved in the war.
