Iran slams NATO's warning on missile support to Russia

Iran denounced the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit statement warning Iran against sending ballistic missiles to Russia, calling it "entirely baseless and politically motivated."

“Linking the Ukraine conflict to Iran-Russia cooperation is a politically motivated move aimed at justifying Western intervention and continued military aid to Ukraine,” foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated on Thursday.

NATO leaders issued a stern warning to Iran on Wednesday, cautioning against the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, labeling it a significant "escalation" in Tehran's support for Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The alliance between Iran and Russia has strengthened due to the Ukraine conflict which has prompted extensive global sanctions on both Iran and Russia.

Iran has supplied Russia with hundreds of kamikaze drones, and unofficial reports suggest Tehran may be contemplating further assistance with missiles.

In February, Reuters reported that Iran had supplied Russia with “a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.” UK defense secretary Grant Shapps later echoed this claim, indicating he had such information but withheld details.

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

Recent satellite imagery published by Reuters showed significant expansions at two key Iranian ballistic missile facilities, which researchers believe are aimed at boosting missile production with sources indicating missile components would be sold to Russia.