NATO Secretary General Warns: Support from the Islamic Republic and North Korea for Russia Has Serious Global Consequences

The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, warned on Wednesday at a meeting of foreign ministers of this Western defense alliance in Brussels that military support from the Islamic Republic and North Korea for Russia in its attack on Ukraine has serious security and global consequences. According to Reuters, Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that "Moscow's Asian friends are vital in continuing Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine, and China is also supporting Russia's war economy, which has regional and global security implications." Tehran has provided Moscow with Shahed drones for attacks on Ukraine, and Pyongyang has sent ballistic missiles and other weapons to Moscow; in return, Russia has provided them with technology and equipment that aids their missile and nuclear capabilities. Earlier in February, Reuters reported, citing six informed sources, that the Islamic Republic had sent a large number of powerful ground-to-ground ballistic missiles to Russia, indicating an expansion of military relations between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries. While U.S. officials and other Western countries have repeatedly warned the Islamic Republic against providing such weapons to Russia, they have not confirmed that Moscow has received these missiles. European diplomats have warned that potential actions against the Islamic Republic could include sanctions on Iran Air, Iranian banks in Europe, and even the possibility of re-imposing UN Security Council sanctions as part of the nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers. According to five European diplomats, foreign ministers from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Romania requested new sanctions against the Islamic Republic in a letter to Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, on February 19. Diplomats say the new sanctions target Tehran's support for Moscow, but new actions will also focus on individuals and companies involved in arming, financing, and training proxies in the Middle East, as well as potential sanctions against the proxy groups themselves. Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State held a joint press conference with his French counterpart in Paris, stating, "We are working with our European and NATO friends to counter any arms shipments from countries, particularly missile shipments from the Iranian government to Russia." Antony Blinken noted that Iranian missiles sent to Russia are being used against the people of Ukraine, adding, "We are working together to cut off any such support, whether it comes from Iran, North Korea, or China."