NATO leaders warn Iran against sending ballistic missiles to Russia

Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states on Wednesday warned Iran against sending ballistic missiles to Russia, calling it a significant "escalation" in Tehran's support for the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Iran and Russia have grown closer due to the war in Ukraine, which has resulted in sweeping sanctions on Russia from the US and the EU. Iran has supplied Russia with hundreds of kamikaze drones, and unofficial reports suggest that Tehran may be considering enhancing its assistance with missiles.

In a Declaration released on Wednesday, NATO leaders accused Iran of "fueling Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine by providing direct military support to Russia, such as munitions and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), which seriously impacts Euro-Atlantic security and undermines the global non-proliferation regime."

The NATO leaders attending a summit in Washington DC warned that "any transfer of ballistic missiles and related technology by Iran to Russia would represent a substantial escalation."

In February, Reuters reported that Iran had provided Russia with “a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles”. The claim was later repeated by UK defense secretary Grant Shapps, who indicated that he had such information but refused to offer details.

Iran denied providing the weapons, and the US said it could not confirm the transfers, but it assumed Tehran intended to provide missiles to Moscow.

Recent satellite imagery published by Reuters showed major expansions at two key Iranian ballistic missile facilities that researchers assessed are for boosting missile production. Sources told Reuters the missile components would be sold to Russia.

The NATO leaders' warning comes less than a month after the Group of Seven leaders warned Iran not to give Russia ballistic missiles.

"We call on Iran to stop assisting Russia’s war in Ukraine and not to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology, as this would represent a substantive material escalation and a direct threat to European security," the G7 stated in mid-June.

Under severe international sanctions, Russia and Iran have expanded their economic ties, with mutual trade standing at $4 billion, which even Iranian officials admit is far below the target of $40 billion.

The two countries reached an agreement in December to eliminate the use of the US dollar in bilateral trade, a development heralded by Iran's central bank governor as a "new chapter." However, the move has more of a symbolic significance than a real economic act.