UPDATE - Russia receives ballistic missiles from Iran, 'will likely use them within weeks,' warns US

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By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran and "will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine."

Speaking at a joint news conference with his British counterpart David Lammy in London, Blinken said the US will be announcing additional sanctions against Iran later Tuesday, including measures on Iran Air.

Blinken noted that Washington expects that allies and partners will also be announcing new measures on Iran.

He reiterated concern about Iran's drone and missile supply to Russia, saying that Tehran has long supplied drones and built a drone factory in Russia while training Russian personnel on how to operate them.

"For some time, the United States has warned of an additional threat the provision by Iran of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine," he said.

Noting that the US warned Iran that taking the step would constitute "a dramatic escalation," he said dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles.

"Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine against Ukrainians," added Blinken.

Saying that Russia has an array of its own ballistic missiles, however, Blinken said the supply of Iranian missiles "enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line."

"This development and the growing cooperation between Russia and Iran threatens European security and demonstrates how Iran's destabilizing influence reaches far beyond the Middle East," he said.

Russia was also sharing technology with Iran, including on nuclear issues, he added.

Lammy called the supply of ballistic missiles a "significant escalation."

He also announced that he, along with Blinken will make a joint trip to the Ukrainian capital.

"Today, I can confirm that Tony and I will be traveling to Kyiv this week, the first joint visit of this kind for well over a decade," he said. "We are the closest of allies, so I'm delighted that we will travel together, demonstrating our commitment to Ukraine.”

Blinken noted that the trip is "a critical moment" for Ukraine.