The United States issued a stern warning on Monday, threatening a “severe” response if Iran proceeds with sending ballistic missiles to Russia. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed deep concern over reports that Iran intends to deliver hundreds of these missiles to Russia.
The U.S. has also cautioned against any efforts by Tehran to strengthen its relations with Russia. Patel mentioned that the U.S. has been coordinating with European allies regarding the reports of Iran’s missile plans.
This warning comes as Ukraine’s top commander reported that Kyiv controls approximately 1,000 square kilometers of Russia’s Kursk region. According to Reuters, the acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, stated that Ukraine controls 28 settlements, with the incursion extending about 12 kilometers deep and 40 kilometers wide.
Patel emphasized that any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran would be seen as a significant escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the U.S. is prepared to respond swiftly and severely. He also criticized Iranian officials for denying the provision of UAVs to Russia, despite clear evidence of their use in attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
The U.S. has previously sanctioned those involved in supplying Iranian drones to Russia. Meanwhile, Iran’s UN representative has refuted the reports of missile supplies, asserting that while Iran has no legal restrictions on conventional weapon sales, it will avoid transferring weapons that could be used in the conflict.
