US, UK express concerns over Russia-Iran ties
The United States has vowed to disrupt Russian ties with Iran which a British envoy said involved Moscow seeking hundreds of ballistic missiles and offering unprecedented military support in return.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters Washington was very concerned about the “deepening and burgeoning defence partnership” between Iran and Russia and would work to disrupt that relationship, including on drones.
Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward said Iran had sent hundreds of drones that Russia had used in Ukraine.
“Russia is now attempting to obtain more weapons, including hundreds of ballistic missiles,” she told reporters.
“In return, Russia is offering Iran an unprecedented level of military and technical support.”
Tehran and Moscow have denied Western accusations that Russia is using Iranian drones to attack targets in Ukraine.
Putin earlier repeated an accusation that the West was “exploiting” Ukraine and using its people as “cannon fodder” in a conflict with Russia, and said the West’s desire to maintain its global dominance was increasing risks
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“They deliberately multiply chaos and aggravate the international situation,” Putin said in a video message to a summit of defence ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and a group of ex-Soviet states.
He later specifically criticized France and Germany, which in 2014 and 2015 brokered ceasefire accords between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, saying they had betrayed Moscow by supplying Ukraine with weapons.
“The question of trust arises. And trust of course is almost at zero… But nevertheless, in the final analysis, we have to come to an agreement. I have already said many times that we are ready for these agreements,” Putin said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin criticized Putin as he voiced concern about Russia’s expanding nuclear arsenal.
His comments came hours after Putin vowed that any country that dared attack Russia with nuclear weapons would be wiped from the face of the earth.
“As the Kremlin continues its cruel and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine, the whole world has seen Putin engage in deeply irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling,” Austin said, speaking at U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees America’s nuclear forces.
Reuters/Zainab Sa’id
