An Iranian lawmaker has confirmed media reports about Tehran's delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia, but downplayed threats from Ukraine and its Western allies to impose "heavy" costs on Iran.
Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, acknowledged Iran’s military assistance to Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, less than 24 hours after Iran's UN mission denied a report by The Wall Street Journal about the delivery of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
"We have to barter for our needs, including importing soybeans and wheat. Part of the barter involves sending missiles, and another part involves sending military drones to Russia," Ardestani told Didban Iran on Saturday.
When asked whether sending ballistic missiles to Russia might lead to further sanctions or trigger the so-called "snapback" mechanism against Iran, the lawmaker replied, "It can't get any worse than it already is. We give missiles to Hezbollah, Hamas, and Hashd al-Shaabi, so why not to Russia?"
"We sell weapons and receive dollars. We circumvent sanctions through our partnership with Russia. We import soybeans, corn, and other goods from Russia. Europeans sell arms to Ukraine. NATO has entered Ukraine, so why shouldn’t we support our ally by sending missiles and drones to Russia?" Ardestani said.
Later on Sunday, Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, addressed the reports of ballistic missile shipments to Russia, stating, "The Islamic Republic has never been part of the Russia-Ukraine conflict." He further added, "Military cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Russia dates back well before the start of the Ukraine war." In effect, Kanaani did not specifically deny the report but repeated Iran's standard response that can be interpreted as a denial.
The Biden administration has informed its allies that Iran delivered short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, providing Moscow with a significant new military tool amid its ongoing war against Ukraine, a Friday report by the Wall Street Journal said citing US and European officials.
"The missiles have finally been delivered," a US official said. The shipment reportedly includes several hundred short-range ballistic missiles, capable of reaching up to 500 miles. These missiles could help bolster Russia’s intensified missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, which have recently led to the deaths of dozens of civilians.
"We have been warning of the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the outset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and are alarmed by these reports," said White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett. "Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."
Ardestani’s comments come amid repeated official denials from Iran regarding the shipment of missiles, drones, and other military equipment to Russia.
Just hours after the Wall Street Journal’s report was published, Iran’s United Nations delegation issued a statement denying any missile or weapon transfers to Russia. The statement asserted, "The Islamic Republic has not provided weapons to any party involved in the conflict in Ukraine and has urged other countries to stop doing so."
In reaction to the reported military shipments, European countries are considering banning Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, from flying to European airports. The new sanctions package is expected to target companies and individuals involved in the missile transfers, including transportation companies linked to these operations.
"If civilians in Ukraine die from these missiles (Tehran delivered to Russia), then Iran will pay a double price for that. The response will be severe," a Ukrainian defense source told The Times, but did not elaborate on the nature of that response.
Russia's access to Iranian ballistic missiles could devastate civilian populations, marking a turning point in the conflict, Farzin Nadimi, a Senior Fellow with the Washington Institute, told Iran International.
He said some of these missiles will have enough range to hit Western Ukraine and strike important targets like railway stations. "It's going to have a really bad effect on civilians."
