WH NSC Spox Kirby: Iran-Russia Partnership Threatens European Security

White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby has delivered a press briefing on Iran's recent transfer of close-range ballistic missiles to Russia. Kirby says, without speculating on the number of missiles transferred: "We know these missiles have been delivered, but that's really as far as I'm going to be able to go right now."

• Kirby said, per Laura Rozen at Just Security: "...dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close range ballistic missile system. Russia has received these shipments of Iranian Fath-360 close range ballistic missiles, and will probably employ them within weeks against Ukraine..."
• Kirby: "Moscow possesses an array of its own ballistic missiles, but the supply of these Iranian missiles, which have a maximum range of about 75 miles, could allow Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets beyond the front line, while employing Iranian warheads for closer range targets."
• Kirby: "This is obviously deeply concerning, and it certainly speaks to the manner in which this partnership threatens European security and how it illustrates Iran's destabilizing influence now…well beyond the Middle East."
• Kirby: "Russia's support for Iran is destabilizing as well, as Moscow is sharing technology that Iran needs, including on nuclear issues. And we know that Russia also shares some space information with Iran."
• Kirby's comments come as the E3; Germany, France, and the UK, prepare to apply new sanctions on entities related to Iran's ballistic missile programme and Iran’s national carrier Iran Air.