US may provide Ukraine with long-range missiles In retaliation for Iran’s assistance to Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated that the US is considering discussions on Ukraine’s use of Western long-range missiles against Russia, following confirmation that Iran has supplied ballistic missiles to Moscow. 

“We’re going to review and respond” to Ukraine’s request to lift the restrictions on its use of long-range missiles, Blinken stated on September 10 during a press conference with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London. This suggests that the US may be willing to reconsider its stance on the issue, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Blinken and Lammy are scheduled to visit Kyiv on September 11, prior to a meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington on September 13. Blinken noted that the missile issue will also be on the agenda during this high-level meeting. Currently, the US opposes Ukraine using these weapons inside Russian territory, citing concerns about potential Russian escalation.

However, the situation has evolved with Iran’s recent transfer of Fath-360 missiles to Russia, despite repeated warnings from the US and its allies. This transfer marks a significant escalation in Tehran’s involvement in the conflict. In response, the governments of France, Germany, and the UK have condemned Iran’s actions as a “direct threat to European security.” Blinken confirmed that Russia is likely to deploy these missiles in Ukrainian territory “within weeks,” as reported by Bloomberg last week. 

Blinken also announced that the US and its allies will soon introduce new sanctions against Iran, including measures targeting its national carrier, Iran Air. The airline, which operates flights to numerous international destinations, including Frankfurt, London, and Rome, is already subject to US sanctions. On September 9, Ukraine's foreign minister summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires to address reports of Iran supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, a claim Iran has denied. Blinken stated that these missiles would enhance Russia’s capacity to strike Ukraine, describing the conflict as entering a “critical moment.”

He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of using energy and electricity as weapons ahead of what he anticipates will be an “intense fall fighting season.” Blinken's upcoming trip to Kyiv, scheduled for September 11, will be his fifth visit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This visit follows Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region, which has raised concerns and curiosity among allies about the tactical and strategic consequences. 

While the UK has shown openness to Ukraine using British Storm Shadow missiles against military targets inside Russia, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy did not clarify his stance on the issue during the press conference, stating it was not the appropriate venue for such discussions. The Biden administration has so far opposed allowing Ukraine to use its long-range ATACMS missiles in Russia. In a separate statement, Blinken urged Israel to de-escalate its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, emphasizing the need for a cease-fire that would benefit all parties involved.