Russia is now closer to acquiring Iranian ballistic missiles from Tehran just days after launching North Korean-made missiles into Ukraine, according to the US.
At Thursday’s White House Press Briefing, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has hosted Russian officials several times since February 2022.
Russia increasingly isolated due to US sanctions
“We assess that Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran,” Kirby said.
Kirby could not say how close Russia is to obtaining or purchasing the Iranian missiles, but they “haven’t seen them consummate a deal for close-range ballistic missiles.”
“Due in part to our sanctions and export controls, Russia has become increasingly isolated on the world stage, and they’ve been forced to look to like-minded states for military equipment,” Kirby said.
According to Kirby, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles.
Russia launched North Korean-made missiles into Ukraine on December 30 and January 2, Kirby said, and is expected to use additional North Korean ballistic missiles.
Kirby said the US and its allies will be taking steps in response to Russia’s activities with Iran and North Korea.
US to take action following Russian activities
“First, Russia’s procurement of ballistic missiles from the DPRK directly violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions. We will raise these arms deals at the UN Security Council alongside our allies and partners, and we will demand that Russia be held accountable for yet again, violating its international obligations,” Kirby said.
“Second, we will impose additional sanctions against those working to facilitate arms transfers between Russia and the DPRK and between Russia and Iran,” Kirby said. “Third, we will continue to release information to the public and expose these arms deals as we are doing today.
Kirby said it’s critical for the US Congress to “meet this moment” and provide Ukraine with what they need to defend themselves.
“Iran and the DPRK are standing with Russia. Ukrainians deserve to know that the American people in this government will continue to stand with them,” Kirby said.
While Kirby said the international economic pressure Putin faces has detrimentally affected his defense industrial capacity, it hasn’t stopped Putin from trying to increase his capacity.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.
