Iran Reiterates Denial Of Military Drone Export To Russia

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani Friday said charges by Ukraine and Western countries are mere "accusations" lacking credible evidence, insisting that it has not supplied drones to Russia for any aggressive purpose.

However, hundreds of these drones have been shot down over Ukraine with multiple pieces collected by the Ukrainian military and in one case even a complete drone was put on display late last year.

The European Union's decision to impose additional restrictive sanctions against Iran comes after the Islamic Republic already faced three previous sanctions for drone exports to Russia. The latest measures target the export of components used in the construction and production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from EU member states to Iran.

Iran had consistently denied providing any drones to Russia to be used in the conflict with Ukraine until November 2022 when credible evidence forced foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to admit that some were sent to Russia "before the war with Ukraine."

The United States and its main NATO allies have warned Tehran to cease military cooperation with Moscow and any weapons shipments.

In response to mounting criticism, Nasser Kanani asserted that any attempt to link the situation in Ukraine to Iran-Russia bilateral cooperation is a "purely political act."

Iran maintains that its relations with Russia are based on “shared interests and mutual agreements, unrelated to any military involvement in other regions”.