World
Iran Finally Admits Supplying Drones To Russia
Iran has admitted supplying drones to Russia.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Iranian government has acknowledged for the first time that it had sent a limited number of drones to Russia.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Iran, however, said the drones were supplied in the months before the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian made the admission in a statement on Saturday.
The statement comes after previous denials by Tehran that it had supplied Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, saying it “has not and will not” do so. The denials came after Kyiv accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia, which Moscow has used in the war in Ukraine.
“Some western countries have accused Iran of helping the war in Ukraine by providing drones and missiles to Russia. The part regarding missiles is completely wrong,” Amirabdollahian told reporters in Tehran, Iran’s capital.
“The part about drones is correct, we did provide a limited number of drones to Russia in the months before the start of the war in Ukraine.”
The Iranian foreign minister claimed Tehran had reached an agreement with Ukraine to review evidence that Russia had used Iranian drones in the war.
“We agreed with the foreign minister of Ukraine to provide us with any documents they have that Russia used Iranian drones in Ukraine,” he said.
“We had such an appointment two weeks ago in a European country, a military and political delegation went to that European country, but unfortunately at the last minute the Ukrainian delegation did not attend due to pressure from the US and some European countries, in particular Germany.”
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian
Amirabdollahian disclosed that he spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba last week and they agreed to let Iran review any evidence Ukraine has in the coming days.
“Of course, if it is proven that Russia used Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine, we will not remain indifferent to this issue,” he said.
“Our position regarding the war in Ukraine is to cease the war, return the parties to negotiations, and return displaced persons to their homes.”
Russia has launched a series of drone attacks across Ukraine in recent weeks, striking vital civilian infrastructure and sowing terror in Ukrainian cities far from the frontlines of the war.
Officials from a western country that closely monitors Iran’s weapons program also told CNN that Iran is preparing to send more attack drones, along with surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles, to Russia to use in its war against Ukraine.
According to officials, the last shipment of weapons from Iran to Russia included about 450 drones which the Russians have already used to deadly effect in Ukraine.
FURTHER READING
-
UNICEF To FG: Do Everything Possible To Rescue Children Abducted In Katsina
-
Global Food Crisis Averted As Russia Resumes Participation In Ukraine Grain Export Deal
Ukrainian officials said last week that they had shot down more than 300 Iranian drones.
Click to watch our video for the week:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
