Iranian Weapons and Ammunition Confiscated on Their Way to Ukraine

An American official predicted today, Wednesday, that the United States would soon announce the sending of confiscated Iranian small arms and ammunition to Ukraine. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that the announcement could come this week. The weapons are expected to include small items such as rifles, but they are unlikely to make a significant difference on the battlefield at a time when long-range weapons and air defense systems are at the top of Ukraine's list of demands. The U.S. Congress has not allocated any new funds for Ukraine in a temporary funding bill passed on Saturday to avoid a partial federal government shutdown, highlighting the increasing reluctance among some Republicans to provide funds to Kyiv. The British Royal Navy stated last year that one of its warships seized Iranian weapons, including surface-to-air missiles and cruise missile engines, from smugglers in international waters south of Iran. The Yemeni Houthi movement has been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, leaving 80 percent of the population dependent on aid. The United States has pressured its ally Saudi Arabia to end the war and has tied some of its military support to the kingdom to the conclusion of its intervention in Yemen.