Iran reportedly shifts ballistic missiles to Russia, according to reliable sources.
It's unclear when exactly the missiles were delivered, but their transport comes as Russia has stepped up its missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed at a meeting with allies at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany that Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems due to Ukraine preparing for major Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure this winter.
The Wall Street Journal broke the news of Iran's delivery of the missiles.
National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett informed CNN in a statement that "any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a significant escalation" in Iran's aid to the Kremlin in its invasion of Ukraine.
Savett stated, "We have been warning of the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the outset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and we are deeply concerned by these reports. We and our partners have made it clear at both the G7 and NATO summits this summer that we are prepared to impose serious consequences" in response.
The delivery of ballistic missiles signifies a significant escalation in Iran's support for Russia. Iran had provided Russia with hundreds of drones, which Russian forces have used in their war against Ukraine, and Russia had been constructing a drone-manufacturing facility in the country with Iran's assistance, CNN had reported.
Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations denied the transfer, stating in a CNN interview, "Iran's stance on the Ukraine conflict remains consistent. Iran deems the supply of military aid to the parties engaged in the conflict—which leads to increased human casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a stepping away from ceasefire negotiations—to be inhumane. Therefore, not only does Iran refrain from such actions itself, but it also urges other countries to cease the supply of weapons to the parties involved in the conflict."
Russian negotiations to obtain close-range ballistic missiles from Iran had begun as early as last September, when then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Iran to view the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Ababil close-range ballistic missile systems.
"This visit marked the first public display of ballistic missiles to a senior Russian official visiting Iran since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war," an unnamed official told CNN in January.
The G7 had issued a strong statement last March, warning that the international community would respond with "new and significant measures against Iran" if the country proceeded with sending ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war effort against Ukraine.
Last December, the IRGC had deployed ballistic missiles and missile support systems to a training area inside Iran to be displayed to a visiting Russian delegation, all of which suggested that Russia intended to purchase the systems from Iran.
Russia had also obtained missiles and missile components from North Korea, while CNN had previously reported, and China had aided Russia in substantially expanding its defense industrial base, allowing Moscow to undertake its most ambitious expansion in military manufacturing since the Soviet era, reported officials. China's support to Russia had included substantial amounts of machine tools, drone and turbojet engines, and technology for cruise missiles.
CNN had reached out to the Russian embassy for comment.
This story has been updated with additional details.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the delivery of missiles could be a result of the collaboration between Russia and Iran in politics.
The G7's warning of serious consequences if Iran sends ballistic missiles to Russia underscores the international community's concern about the political implications of such an action.
