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WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
The Biden administration has long warned of deepening military ties between Russia and Iran. Kirby said Tuesday that Moscow has shared space-related information and much-sought-after nuclear technology with Tehran.
The British, French, and German governments called the delivery an “escalation by both Iran and Russia” and “a direct threat to European security.”
“This is a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and will see Iranian missiles reaching European soil, increasing the suffering of the Ukrainian people,” the countries said in a joint statement.
The delivery of Fath-360 missiles marks the latest weapons transfer from abroad to Russia as it continues to depend on other pariah states like Iran and North Korea for military assistance to help sustain its war machine in Ukraine.
Iran has also supplied Russia with one-way attack drones, while North Korea has given Moscow ballistic missiles and artillery. Western countries, including the US, have condemned these transactions as destabilizing and escalatory.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday that it’s likely the recent transfer of missiles between Iran and Russia won’t be a “one-time good deal,” noting that Moscow could seek additional munitions in the future.