G7 Condemns Iran's Transfer of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

On Saturday, September 24, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries issued a joint statement condemning the transfer of ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia in the strongest terms. The G7 foreign ministers noted that Russia is using Iranian weapons to kill Ukrainian civilians and target the country's critical infrastructure. They warned that they remain committed to holding the Iranian government accountable for its illegal support of Russia's unlawful war against Ukraine and will respond with 'new' and 'significant' actions. According to them, Russia's aggression is a gross violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter. The senior diplomats of the seven industrialized nations stated, 'Iran must immediately cease all support for Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and stop the transfer of ballistic missiles, drones, and related technologies [to Russia], which pose a direct threat to the people of Ukraine and, on a broader scale, to the security of Europe and the world.' The G7 consists of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, and Italy. Previously, Robert Wood, the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations, stated on Friday, September 23, at a UN Security Council meeting that Russia received its first shipment of hundreds of Iranian-made ballistic missiles this month. He also noted that Iran and Russia signed a weapons contract for Iranian missiles late last year, and this summer, Iranian personnel trained Russian military staff on the use of the short-range 'Fateh 360' ballistic missiles. Robert Wood described this action by the Islamic Republic as a 'very destabilizing' development that would increase the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN reminded that the Islamic Republic has provided thousands of drones to Russia over the past two and a half years, which have been used by Russian forces to attack Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure. He warned that the partnership between Russia and Iran is not only a threat to Ukraine and the European Union but also directly facilitates the destabilizing activities of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East and around the world. In this context, the European Union also condemned the Iranian government's action and emphasized that its response would be 'swift' and coordinated with international partners, including 'new and significant' restrictive measures, such as sanctions on 'individuals and entities involved in the missile and drone programs' of the Islamic Republic. The growing military relationship between Moscow and Tehran and the use of Iranian-made suicide drones by Russian forces to attack civilian equipment and Ukrainian citizens have prompted Western countries to impose extensive sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities involved in these relations. The U.S. and UK reiterated their support for Ukraine, with Biden and Starmer expressing concern over the delivery of lethal weapons from Iran and North Korea to Russia. Ukraine: Russia has launched over 8,000 'Shahed' drones since the beginning of the war. The Iranian chargé d'affaires in Paris was summoned; France's reaction to the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. The Islamic Republic responded to the new sanctions; the heads of European political representations in Iran were summoned. A Russian ship suspected of carrying Iranian-made ballistic missiles was seen in a port in the Caspian Sea. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that the delivery of missiles to Russia during the period of the Medicalian is contrary to his claims for improving Iran's economy. Ukraine did not rule out severing relations with the Islamic Republic over the missile delivery to Russia. Closer ties between Russia and the Islamic Republic; Shoigu announced the signing of a new bilateral treaty in the near future.