U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, during a conference call with reporters, claimed that Iran is stepping up its military support to Moscow for its war in Ukraine, and that Tehran may be shipping ballistic missiles to Russia. According to a report by The Associated Press, Kirby highlighted a September meeting in which Iran hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to show off a range of ballistic missile systems. “We are therefore concerned that Iran is considering providing Russia with ballistic missiles now for use in Ukraine,” he said. “In return for that support, Russia has been offering Tehran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics and air defense.”
There has been a concerted campaign by the Washington war party to spread the Southwest Asia conflict to include Iran, and from there try to goad Russia into direct involvement.
Kirby claimed further that the Wagner mercenary group, at the direction of the Russian government, was preparing to provide an air-defense capability to either Hezbollah or Iran. He said the U.S. would be watching to see whether that happens and was prepared to use “counterterrorism sanctions authority against Russian individuals or entities that might make these destabilizing transfers.”
