According to EU Spokesman, Peter Stano, EU allies have shared intelligence that Iran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.
The EU warned of new sanctions on Tehran if the deliveries are confirmed.
“We are aware of the credible information provided by allies on the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia,” Peter Stano said.
He added, “We are looking further into it with our member states and if confirmed, this delivery would represent a substantive material escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“The EU leaders’ unanimous position has always been clear. The European Union will respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including with new and significant restrictive measures against Iran.”
Peter Stano
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the US had briefed European allies that Iran had delivered short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
The US said that any Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia would mark a sharp escalation in the Ukraine war.
Asked about the reports on Monday, September 9, 2024, Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said, “We have seen this report, it is not every time that this kind of information is true.”
“Iran is our important partner, we are developing our trade and economic relations, we are developing our cooperation and dialogue in all possible areas, including the most sensitive areas.”
Dmitry Peskov
Ukraine said last week that deepening military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow was a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East, and called on the international community to increase pressure on Iran and Russia.
Iran Rejects Arms Delivery Accusations
Iran’s foreign ministry rejected accusations of sending arms to ally Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
“We strongly reject the claims on Iran’s role in exporting arms to one side of the war,” said foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani during a weekly press conference.
When asked about the transfer of Iranian short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, Nasser Kanani remarked that his country has “never been part of the conflict in Ukraine and has always supported a political solution to end the war there.”
“As it has been emphasized repeatedly, the Islamic Republic of Iran, while opposing the war, supports a political solution to resolve differences between Russia and Ukraine to bring an end to the conflict,” the spokesperson iterated.
The spokesperson pointed out that military cooperation between Iran and Russia predates the Ukraine war.
“The cooperation is within the framework of bilateral agreements and is based on international law and norms, and has nothing to do with the Ukraine crisis,” he added.
Additionally, Iran’s senior IRGC Commander, Fazlollah Nozari, was quoted by an Iranian News Agency as saying, “No missile was sent to Russia and this claim is a kind of psychological warfare.”
“Iran does not support any of the parties to the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” Nozari said.
Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations also said in a statement that the country’s position on the “Ukraine conflict remains unchanged” and it doesn’t provide military help to parties engaged in the war.
“Iran considers the provision of military help to the parties engaged in the conflict – which leads to increased human casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a distancing from ceasefire negotiations – to be inhumane,” it said.
“Thus, not only does Iran abstain from engaging in such actions itself, but it also calls upon other countries to cease the supply of weapons to the sides involved in the conflict,” the statement added.
READ ALSO: NDC Will Promote Responsible Mining for Sustainable Development – Nuong Faalong
