U.S., Vowing Sanctions, Accuses Iran of Sending Missiles to Russia

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken accused Iran on Tuesday of shipping short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine and said that the Biden administration would impose more sanctions against Tehran. The penalties would include measures against Iran Air, the country’s main airline, he said.

Russia is likely to use the missiles “within weeks in Ukraine against Ukrainians,” Mr. Blinken said at a news conference with the British foreign secretary, David Lammy. He added that the United States had shared intelligence in recent days with its allies on the missiles, which have a range of 75 miles.

That supply from Iran could greatly aid Russia’s war effort, Mr. Blinken said, allowing it to deploy some of its longer-range missiles against deeper targets in Ukraine rather than using them for short-range attacks.

Mr. Blinken’s remarks were the first public comments by a U.S. or allied official on the missile aid from Iran.

“This is a troubling pattern that we’re seeing from Iran,” Mr. Lammy said in answering a reporter’s question. “It is definitely a significant escalation.”

The two diplomats also said they would make a joint visit to Ukraine this week as a show of solidarity with Kyiv, the first such wartime visit made by the United States and an allied nation.