3 months ago
24
The US and UK are increasingly concerned that
Russia
is sharing with
Iran
secret information and technology that could bring it closer to being able to build
nuclear weapons
, in exchange for Tehran providing Moscow with
ballistic missiles
for its war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has increased its cooperation with Iran over its ambitions to obtain atomic weapons, according to Western officials familiar with the matter.
The development was discussed by US and UK officials in Washington this week, the sources added, as British PM
Keir Starmer
met President Biden at the White House for a strategic meeting on foreign policy.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken suggested during a recent visit to London that Russia was exchanging nuclear technology with Tehran, saying Moscow had received a shipment of Iran's Fath-360 ballistic missiles. "For its part, Russia is sharing technology that Iran seeks - this is a two-way street - including on nuclear issues, as well as some space information," Blinken said.
Blinken and UK foreign secretary
David Lammy
agreed that "Iran's nuclear programme had never been more advanced," the US state department said in a joint statement Saturday.
Iran insists it isn't looking to produce nuclear weapons, although there's concern it could build them in response to escalating tensions with Israel. The IAEA said Iran's nuclear-fuel levels rose between June and Aug, enough to fuel a handful of warheads should Iran decide to pursue weapons.
