
Russia-Ukraine War:Hours after the European Union claimed on Monday (Sep 9) that Iran had supplied Russia with ballistic missiles, citing intelligence reports from allies, the Kremlin has responded.
Moscow did not issue a denial when asked about the allegations and instead preferred to comment on the growing relationship with Tehran.
"We have seen this report, it is not every time that this kind of information is true,"Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Iran is our important partner, we are developing our trade and economic relations, we are developing our cooperation and dialogue in all possible areas, including the most sensitive areas."
The European Union said it was considering fresh sanctions on Tehran if it was confirmed that Russia received the said weapons for its war against Ukraine.
"We are aware of the credible information provided by allies on the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia," EU spokesman Peter Stano said.
"We are looking further into it with our member states and if confirmed, this delivery would represent a substantive material escalation in Iran's support for Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine."
Notably, Iran has provided Russia with hundreds of drones since the war began over two years ago. However,the supply of ballistic missiles represents a deeper level of involvement in the conflict.
Watch |Iran transfers ballistic missiles to Russia amid war with Ukraine
Prior to the EU, it was the US that claimed Iran had transferred the projectiles to President Vladimir Putin's military.
“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 and lead to the killing of more Ukrainian civilians,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement.
“This partnership threatens European security and illustrates how Iran’s destabilising influence reaches beyond the Middle East and around the world.”
Facing suffocating Western sanctions, Moscow has turned towards North Korea and Iran for weapons supplies to keep the war going against Ukraine. While Kim Jong Un has sent ammunition and missiles, Iran has helped the Kremlin in building a drone-manufacturing factory.
China has so far refrained from providing Russians with weaponry but has increased sales of machine tools,microelectronics and technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry.
(With inputs from agencies)