U.S. Transfers to Ukraine 1.1 million 7.62mm Rounds Confiscated from Iranian Ship

The United States has sent over 1 million rounds of ammunition confiscated from Iran, originally intended for Yemen by the Houthi militia, to Ukraine.

The transfer of 7.62mm rounds to the Ukrainian armed forces took place on October 2, as stated by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in a recent statement. It mentioned that the government gained ownership of these munitions on July 20, 2023, through civil forfeiture claims filed against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by the Department of Justice.

Furthermore, it was clarified that the ammunition was initially seized by CENTCOM naval forces from the stateless dhow MARWAN 1 ship during transit on December 9, 2022. This operation was conducted in collaboration with regional partner forces along a route commonly used for smuggling weapons to the Houthis.

The munitions were being transported from the IRGC to the Houthis in Yemen, in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, as asserted by CENTCOM.

CENTCOM has undertaken multiple operations against similar vessels carrying illicit weapons. Earlier in January, the U.S. assisted French troops in seizing 3,000 Iranian assault rifles intended for Yemen, including 23 anti-tank missiles.

"Iran’s support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our  vcforces, diplomatic personnel, and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners. We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran’s destabilizing activities," concluded CENTCOM.