A round seized by the US Navy in the Gulf of Oman (Picture: US Navy) — More than a million rounds have been sent to Ukraine by the United States (Picture: US Navy)

Ukraine

US donates 1.1 million rounds of ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine

More than a million rounds of rifle and light machine gun ammunition that had been destined for Iran before being seized by US naval forces has been handed over to Ukraine instead.

US Central Command confirmed that the transfer of 1.1m 7.62mm rounds took place on 2 October.

The supply of ammunition came one day before the UK and Nato had warned that Western military powers were running out of ammunition to give to Ukraine.

Central Command said: "On 2 October 2023 the US government transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds to the Ukrainian armed forces.

"The government obtained ownership of these munitions on 20 July 2023, through the Department of Justice's civil forfeiture claims against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"These munitions were originally seized by US Central Command naval forces from the transiting stateless dhow MARWAN 1, 9 December 2022.

"The munitions were being transferred from the IRGC to the Houthis in Yemen in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216."

Bags containing more than 50 tons of fuses and propellants for rockets and ammunition rounds sitting on the flight deck of the USS Lewis B. Puller seized in the Gulf of Oman (Picture: US Navy).

The United States and Nato allies have pledged to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion that began in February 2022.

The country has recently received US-supplied Abrams tanks to assist frontline capabilities.

The UK donated £3.2bn in military aid to Ukraine in 2022 and has pledged to do the same in 2023.

Watch: What the US-supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks are bringing to Ukraine.

The US Central Command statement continued: "The US is committed to working with our allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal aid in the region by all lawful 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 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 destabilising activities."

US Naval Forces Central Command is responsible for approximately 2.5 million square miles of area including the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

One of its roles is to conduct maritime security operations to promote security and stability in the US 5th Fleet's area of operations.