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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 9 SepteMber 2024
U.S. believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to

Russia, AP sources say

By AAMER MADHANI and and other weaponry, ac-
ZEKE MILLER cording to U.S. officials.
Associated Press The White House has been
WASHINGTON (AP) — The on edge for months about a
United States has informed possible deal between Iran
allies that it believes Iran has and Russia.
transferred short-range bal- The Democratic administra-
listic missiles to Russia for its tion said in January that U.S.
war in Ukraine, according to intelligence officials had de-
two people familiar with the termined a Russian-Iran deal
matter. had not been completed,
They did not offer any de- but officials were concerned
tails about how many weap- that Russia's negotiations to
ons have been delivered acquire missiles from Iran
or when the transfers may were actively advancing.
have occurred, but they Last September, accord-
confirmed the U.S. intelli- ing to the White House,
gence finding. Iran hosted a top Russian
They spoke on condition of defense official to show off
anonymity to discuss a mat- a range of ballistic missile
ter that has not been pub- systems, adding to the U.S.
licly disclosed. concern that a deal could
The White House declined In this photo released by the Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency, Revolutionary Guard's Fateh come together.
to confirm the weapons missile is launched in a drill near the city of Qom, 80 miles (130 kilometers) south of the capital The U.S. and other countries
transfer but reiterated its Tehran, Iran, Sept. 27, 2009. have taken steps aimed at
concern that Iran is deep- Associated Press thwarting the supply, sale or
ening its support of Russia. the Kremlin tries to repel creased human casualties, Korea that he said threatens transfer involving Iran and
The White House has been Ukraine's surprise offensive destruction of infrastruc- both Ukraine and Western ballistic missile-related items,
warning Iran for months not that has led to the seizure ture, and a distancing from allies in the Middle East. including issuing guidance
to transfer ballistic missiles to of about 500 square miles ceasefire negotiations — to The White House has repeat- to private companies about
Russia. (1,300 kilometers) of Russia's be inhumane," according to edly declassified and pub- Iranian missile procurement
"Any transfer of Iranian bal- Kursk region. Meanwhile, a statement from Iran's mis- licized intelligence findings practices to make sure
listic missiles to Russia would Ukraine's president, Volody- sion to the United Nations. that show North Korea has those companies are not in-
represent a dramatic esca- myr Zelenskyy, is pressing "Thus, not only does Iran sent ammunition and mis- advertently supporting Iran's
lation in Iran's support for allies to allow his country to abstain from engaging in siles to Russia to use against development efforts.
Russia's war of aggression use Western-supplied missiles such actions itself, but it also Ukraine, while Iran supplies President Joe Biden is set to
against Ukraine and lead to to strike deep inside Russia calls upon other countries to Moscow with attack drones host British Prime Minister Keir
the killing of more Ukrainian and hit sites from which Mos- cease the supply of weap- and has assisted the Kremlin Starmer for talks at the White
civilians," National Security cow launches aerial attacks. ons to the sides involved in with building a drone-man- House on Friday. White
Council spokesman Sean Iran, as it has with previous the conflict." ufacturing factory. House press secretary Karine
Savett said in a statement. U.S. intelligence findings, CIA Director William Burns, China has held back from Jean-Pierre said "continuing
"This partnership threatens denied providing Russia who was in London on Satur- providing Russians with robust support to Ukraine in
European security and illus- with weapons for its war in day for a joint appearance weaponry but has surged its defense against Russian
trates how Iran's destabiliz- Ukraine. with his British intelligence sales to Russia of machine aggression" will be on their
ing influence reaches be- "Iran considers the provi- counterpart, warned of the tools, microelectronics and agenda.
yond the Middle East and sion of military assistance to growing and "troubling" de- other technology that Mos- The Wall Street Journal first
around the world." the parties engaged in the fense relationship involving cow in turn is using to pro- reported on the U.S. intelli-
The U.S. finding comes as conflict — which leads to in- Russia, China, Iran and North duce missiles, tanks, aircraft gence finding.q

Wildfire east of L.A. threatens tens of

thousands of homes and forces evacuations

the region. tional Forest, about 65 miles mixed with thunderstorms
State firefighters said three (105 kilometers) east of LA. are expected to challenge
firefighters had been in- As of Sunday morning, the firefighters for the next few
jured and more than 35,000 blaze had charred about 27 days."
structures were threatened, square miles (70 square kilo- County officials, who de-
including single and multi- meters) of grass and chapar- clared an emergency Sat-
family homes and commer- ral, leaving a thick cloud of urday evening, issued evac-
cial buildings, while authori- dark smoke blanketing the uation orders for Running
A burned landscape is left behind by the Line Fire, Saturday,
Sept. 7, 2024, in Running Springs, Calif. ties issued evacuation orders area. Springs, Arrowbear Lake,
Associated Press for several areas. Thunder- "Afternoon thunderstorms areas east of Highway 330
storms expected later in the could cause new ignitions and other regions.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. ing in the foothills of a nation- day could make conditions and potentially influence "Extreme temperatures, wind
(AP) — Tens of thousands of al forest east of Los Angeles, even more challenging. activity around the fire pe- and lightning strikes have al-
homes and buildings were amid a days-long heat wave The so-called Line Fire was rimeter," state firefighters said lowed the fire to grow rap-
threatened Sunday by an that pushed temperatures burning along the edge in a Sunday morning update. idly," the county said in a
out-of-control wildfire burn- into the triple digits across of the San Bernardino Na- "Hot and dry conditions statement.q