"The Entire Region Should Be Concerned" — U.S. Calls Alliance Between Russia, Iran 'Profound Threat'

The U.S. said on Tuesday that it will persist in taking "practical, aggressive" steps to make it harder for Iran to sell drones and missiles to Russia, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Speaking at a daily press briefing, State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel made it clear that Washington had a number of tools to hold both Moscow and Tehran accountable, as it has already used sanctions and export controls as a response.

Patel's comments came in response to media reports that Iran agreed to supply Russian forces with surface-to-surface missiles and more drones used in their ongoing invasion and conflicts across Ukraine.

Asked by TURAN's Washington correspondent whether the countries located in between Iran and Russia, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, and others, had clear understanding of potential consequences if they allowed their territories to be used for missiles transfer, Patel said a deepening alliance between Russia and Iran is a phenomenon that the world should view as a "profound threat," and that "the entire region should be concerned".

He went on to say, "I’m not going to speculate on how other countries might feel about one country or the other, but I would use this opportunity to reiterate again that Russia deepening an alliance with Iran is something that the whole world, including those in the region – including some of the countries that you mentioned, should view as a profound threat. On one hand, you have Russia, which is taking part in a barbaric, illegal, and unjust invasion of another country; and on the other hand, you have Iran, one that is known for partaking in destabilizing, violent actions in the region as well"

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.