Russia Receives Iranian Ballistic Missiles, Escalates Tensions in Ukraine

The U.S. announced that Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran and may deploy them in Ukraine within weeks, with warnings of heightened European security threats. The news comes alongside new sanctions from the U.S. and other Western nations. Iran dismisses the claims as Western propaganda.

Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran and will likely use them in Ukraine within weeks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday. Speaking in London ahead of a Kyiv visit with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken warned that the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran poses a threat to European security. He announced imminent new sanctions to be imposed on Tuesday.

"Russia has now received shipments with these ballistic missiles, and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukraine," Blinken stated, citing shared intelligence. The U.S. Treasury Department identified nine Russian-flagged vessels involved in these deliveries and designated them as "blocked property" under U.S. sanctions. Sanctions were also levied against Iran Air and other entities.

Iran has denied supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, calling the accusations Western propaganda intended to divert attention from military support to Israel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didn't confirm the reports but acknowledged sensitive cooperation. Blinken stressed the growing cooperation between Russia and Iran threatens European security and extends Iran's destabilizing influence beyond the Middle East.

(With inputs from agencies.)