Rising Concerns in the UK and US Over a Possible Secret Nuclear Pact Between Iran and Russia
According to different sources, the UK and US are believed to have had discussions on the shared concern that Russia made nuclear secrets available to Iran in return for ballistic missiles utilized in Russia’s Ukraine war.
At a summit in Washington on Friday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden discussed the fact that Iran and Russia are strengthening their military cooperation, as well as other key issues surrounding Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine – including the use by Kyiv of Western long-range missiles hitting targets deep inside Russia.
Mr Starmer and Mr Biden discussed intelligence pointing to a deal that would see the Kremlin providing Iran nuclear technology, sources on the British side told The Times. If confirmed, such a deal would be especially alarming since Tehran is pressing forward with its programme of uranium enrichment, a step toward developing a nuclear weapon.
The Ukrainian media cited Ukraine’s Western allies as saying Iran has supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, and the weapons would likely be used against Ukraine in the coming weeks. The United States, Britain, France, and Germany levied additional sanctions against Tehran on Thursday, calling its “escalatory” move an act of provocation.
Iran dismissed on Friday allegations that it has provided the Russian side with weapons, labeling these “completely baseless and false”. Russia has not directly responded to these reports but referred to Iran as the “important partner” and said their cooperation is only deepening.
Early last week, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in the UK during a press conference alongside foreign minister David Lammy that Russia had recently acquired new ballistic missiles from Iran. He warned that Russia is sharing secret nuclear data with Iran- a factor that may likely have implications for both Israel and the US.
“Russia is sharing technology that Iran seeks-this is a two-way street-including on nuclear issues, as well as some space information.” 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, the top US diplomat said.
Under a 2015 accord, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons development in exchange for relief from sanctions by the US and other countries. Still, the deal collapsed after then-US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018.
It is not clear how much technical ability Tehran has or how quickly it could produce a nuclear weapon. However, teaming up with Russian specialists with experience in this field would hasten the process. The proposed agreement would increase pressure further on the US and UK to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles – Britain’s Storm Shadows and US ATACMS – in striking military installations within Russia. This issue was fiercely debated at the summit, and no decision was announced.
At least five ex-Tory defence secretaries—Grant Shapps, Ben Wallace, Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt, and Liam Fox—along with ex-prime minister Boris Johnson—have urged Mr Starmer to relax limitations placed on Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow Sq. However, they also require US cooperation to be used to full effect.
