Ukraine war: G7 threatens new sanctions if Iran sends Russia ballistic missiles

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced his concerns during a visit in Vienna on Friday.

“We’ve sent very clear messages to Iran not to do it … And I think that the concern about that eventuality – and the commitment to address it if necessary – is very real and very strong,” he told reporters.

A senior US administration official told journalists that if Iran decides to sell ballistic missiles to Russia, the costs will far outweigh the benefits, saying the “transfer hasn’t happened, but there’s a real danger that it could”.

Among the steps that have been discussed is ending national airline Iran Air’s flights to Europe, the official added, declining to provide details on other response options.

The G7 previously denounced support from China and Iran for Russia’s war in Ukraine in a statement issued on the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of the country by Moscow’s forces.

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They called on Iran to stop helping Russia’s military and expressed concern on the transfer by Chinese businesses of weapons components and military equipment to Moscow.

Ukrainian forces have been hit by ammunition shortages as additional funding for military aid to Kyiv remains stalled in the US Congress.

Moscow has turned to Tehran as well as Pyongyang to obtain arms for use in Ukraine, while Russia has also massively ramped up its domestic arms production.