FILE PHOTO: Iranian ballistic missiles are displayed during the ceremony of joining the Armed Forces, in Tehran, Iran, August 22, 2023. Iran鈥檚 Presidency/WANA (West Asia 好色先生TV Agency)/Handout via REUTERS./File Photo
WASHINGTON 鈥� The Biden administration on Thursday cautioned Iran of a 鈥渟wift and severe鈥� response from the international community if Tehran provided ballistic missiles to Russia.
The US warning comes after Reuters reported earlier this week that the Islamic Republic shipped the powerful weapons to Moscow.
Speaking at a virtual briefing with reporters, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Washington has yet to see confirmation that missiles have moved from Iran to Russia.
Reuters exclusively reported on Wednesday that Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, citing six sources, a move that illustrated the deepening military cooperation between the two US-sanctioned countries.
鈥淚n this press reporting, the Iranians are clearly indicating that they will ship ballistic missiles to Russia, and we have no reason to believe they will not follow through,鈥� Kirby said.
鈥淔or our part, we will take this matter to the UN Security Council,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e will implement additional sanctions against Iran. And we will coordinate further response options with our allies and partners in Europe and elsewhere.鈥�
READ: Iran鈥檚 president denies sending weapons to Russia, slams US
Iran鈥檚 provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources told Reuters. This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 km and 700 km (186 miles and 435 miles), experts say.
The shipments began in early January after a deal between Iranian and Russian military and security officials was finalized in meetings in Tehran and Moscow late last year, one of the Iranian sources said.
Iranian-made Shahed drones supplied to Moscow have played a major role in Russia鈥檚 attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, but the supply of ballistic missiles would be a sign of even deeper cooperation.
Iran has been supplying Russia with a significant number of drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery ammunition, which Russia has been using, to some effect, to attack Ukraine, Kirby said.
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鈥淚n response to Iran鈥檚 ongoing support for Russia鈥檚 brutal war, we will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days, and we are prepared to go further if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia,鈥� Kirby said.
United Nations Security Council restrictions on Iran鈥檚 export of some missiles, drones and other technologies expired in October. However, the United States and European Union retained sanctions on Iran鈥檚 ballistic missile program amid concerns over exports of weapons to its proxies in the Middle East and to Russia.