US considering measures to respond to Iran-Russia defense cooperation: Kirby
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
May 15, 2023
Tehran, IRNA -- A top White House official has said that the United States is considering ways, including sanctions, to respond to what he called an "unprecedented defense partnership" between Iran and Russia.
John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, made the comment in a briefing to reporters on Monday.
He said that the expanding defense partnership between Tehran and Moscow would help Russia prolong its war in Ukraine and pose a threat to Iran's neighbors, Reuters reported.
The American official repeated allegations that Iran is providing drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, including more than 400 since August.
According to Kirby, the US will be announcing additional designations targeting the military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.
Iran and Russia, as the two countries hit by Western sanctions particularly by the US, have time and again said that they are expanding their mutual cooperation in all fields from economy to politics and trade as well as military in an effort to counter what they describe as US hegemonic policies.
Iran has admitted that it has sent drones to Russia as part of their military cooperation, but maintains that they were dispatched long before the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Plus, the Islamic Republic has on various occasions called for an end to the Ukraine war and expressed its readiness to help bring a political solution.
Iran has repeatedly rejected allegations of posing threats to its neighbors, and instead blames the presence of foreign forces for insecurity in the West Asia region.
4194
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
