The United States has sent 1.1 million rounds of ammunition previously seized from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Ukraine. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) seized the munitions in 2022 when the Iranian military transferred them to the Houthis in Yemen.
The 7.62 mm bullets are intended to fuel Volodomir Zelensky's army in the war with Russia, amid the internal debate in the United States about whether or not to continue financing the European country. The tensions were such that Kevin McCarthy, now former speaker of the House of Representatives, was removed from his post.
"The United States is committed to working with its allies and partners to counter the flow of lethal Iranian aid in the region by all legal means, including US and UN sanctions, and through interdictions. Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel and citizens of the region, as well as those of our partners. We will continue to do everything we can to shed light on Iran's destabilizing activities and put an end to them," CENTCOM said in a press release.
Naval forces seized the munitions in 2022 when Iran transferred them to the Houthis in Yemen. American officials accused the Iranian regime of violating a United Nations Security Council resolution that imposed sanctions on rebel groups that undermined the stability of the Asian country.
As reported by CNN, Joe Biden's government began to manage the shipment of the seized weapons to Ukraine legally. The Navy confiscated thousands of Iranian rifles and over half a million rounds of ammunition from fishing boats. In January 2023, approximately 3,000 rifles and 23 anti-tank guided missiles were requisitioned.
The shipment came after congressional leaders withheld an additional aid package for Kyiv in government shutdown negotiations.
