'A threat to all of Europe': Iran is supplying Russia with ballistic missiles, says US

Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia and the Kremlin “will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine”, the US secretary of state has said.

Speaking during a visit to the UK, Antony Blinken said the development was “a threat to all of Europe” and showed how Iran’s “destabilising influence reaches far beyond the Middle East”.

He told a news conference: “Dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close range ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles.

“Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine against Ukrainians.

“Russia has an array of its own ballistic missiles, but the supply of Iranian missiles enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line.”

What is the Fath-360 missile?

The Fath-360 missile, also known as BM-120, was announced on Iran’s Army Day in April 2022 after being revealed at a military exhibition in 2020.

Built by Iran, it is small and lightweight, allowing several of them to be placed on truck-based launchers.

With four fins at the end, there are four further triangular fins just above them and four small ones near the tip of the missile.

They have a range of 19 to 75 miles, can carry a 150kg (93) warhead and can be launched at a speed of Mach 3 (2,300mph – three times the speed of sound).

The missiles connect to satellites after being launched so they can hit targets at a speed of Mach 4 (3,069mph).

It is believed the Iranians are using the Russian’s GLONASS satellite navigation system, which provides an alternative to GPS.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the supply of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia was “definitely a significant escalation” and said the UK was “coordinating”.

However, when asked if he would approve Ukraine’s use of the Storm Shadow long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia, Mr Lammy said he would not comment on “operational issues”.

The US will be announcing further sanctions on Iran later on Tuesday, Mr Blinken said, including further measures against Iran Air.

He said other countries were also expected to announce fresh sanctions.

Tehran sending ballistic missiles to Russia is a serious step-up

Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor

@haynesdeborah

Iran’s decision to send ballistic missiles to Russia as its two-year invasion of Ukraine rages on has been branded as a “significant escalation” by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

It is a serious step-up in what is already a significant level of military assistance given by Iran to its ally, which until now had comprised attack drones, ammunition and artillery shells – aid that had already triggered increased western sanctions and outrage.

A result of it may be Ukraine finally getting the greenlight to use US and UK weapons to strike inside Russia.

Click here to read Deborah Haynes’ analysis

However, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff said imposing sanctions on Iran for supplying Moscow with ballistic missiles was not enough, and allies should allow Kyiv to carry out strikes deep into Russia using Western weapons.

“We also need permission to use Western weapons against military targets on the territory of the Russian Federation, deliveries of longer-range missiles, and strengthening our air defences,” the official, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram.

Mr Lammy and Mr Blinken revealed they would be travelling together to Kyiv later this week, in what Mr Lammy described as the “first joint visit of this kind for well over a decade”.

Mr Blinken said Russia and Iran’s relationship was a “two-way street”, with the Kremlin sharing technology with Iran, including on nuclear issues and space information.

“So, as Iran’s destabilising activity spread, so does Russia, sowing even greater insecurity in their regions and around the world,” he said.

He added the US has been sharing intelligence behind the discovery with allies and partners “and working together to ensure that there will be significant economic consequences for Tehran’s actions”.

Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the UK, France, and Germany for cancelling bilateral air service agreements and the sanctioning of Iran Air.

Kanani said: “This action by the three European countries continues the West’s hostile policy and economic terrorism against the Iranian people, and it will be met with an appropriate and proportional response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He added: “As previously emphasized, any claims that Iran has sold ballistic missiles to the Russian Federation are entirely baseless and false.

“The United States and these three European countries are the primary suppliers of weapons to the Zionist regime, complicit in the widespread massacre of Palestinians and the genocide in Gaza.

“They must be held accountable for their misguided policies.”

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