Iran is considering supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for its war in Ukraine in addition to the drones Tehran has already supplied, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday, Reuters reported.

“We see that Iran is offering drones and considering the possibility of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia,” Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Istanbul. “This is unacceptable. No country should support Moscow in this illegal war.”

It will be recalled that US and allied security officials told the Washington Post on condition of anonymity that Tehran agreed to secretly send not only strike drones, but also what some officials called the first Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles intended for use against Ukrainian cities. and troops

So, in an apparent sign of Iran’s expanding role as a military supplier to Moscow, Tehran sent officials to Russia to finalize terms for additional arms deliveries, including two types of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles, according to firm officials in the closely watched U.S. ally. monitors Iran’s weapons activities.

In addition, analysisThe Institute for the Study of War reported on November 2 that Iran wants to send more drones and new ballistic missile systems to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Russia likely negotiated additional supplies of Iranian weapons systems due to the depletion of its stockpile of cruise missiles and drones during the war in Ukraine, particularly during the Russian campaign against critical Ukrainian infrastructure, ISW notes.

However, Iranian officials have denied reports that the country is sending weapons, including military drones, to Russia for the war in Ukraine, calling them “false.”

The European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on the Iranian company that produces Shahed drones and organizations that supply them to the Russian armed forces.

Ten Iranians training Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukrainian strikes in the war between Russia and Ukraine over the past week, a Ukrainian official told the KAN news agency, as cited by the Jerusalem Post.