Iran says it shipped drones to Russia earlier than Ukraine battle

Iran acknowledged for the primary time on Saturday that it had provided Moscow with drones however mentioned they have been despatched earlier than the battle in Ukraine, the place Russia has used them to focus on energy stations and civilian infrastructure.

Iranian Overseas Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian mentioned a “small quantity” of drones had been shipped a couple of months earlier than Russia’s Feb 24 invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Tehran of mendacity, saying Kyiv’s forces have been downing at the very least 10 of the unmanned aerial autos every single day.

In Iran’s most detailed response so far, Amirabdollahian denied Tehran was persevering with to produce drones to Moscow.

“This fuss made by some Western international locations that Iran has supplied missiles and drones to Russia to assist the battle in Ukraine – the missile half is totally mistaken,” the official IRNA information company quoted him as saying.

“The drone half is true and we supplied Russia a small variety of drones months earlier than the Ukraine battle,” he mentioned.

In latest weeks Ukraine has reported a surge in drone assaults on civilian infrastructure, notably concentrating on energy stations and dams, utilizing Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Russia denies its forces have used Iranian drones to assault Ukraine.

In a video handle, Zelenskyy dismissed speak of restricted Iranian provides to Russia, saying Ukraine had downed 11 drones on Friday alone.

“If Iran continues to lie in regards to the apparent, it means the world will make much more efforts to analyze the terrorist cooperation between the Russian and Iranian regimes and what Russia pays Iran for such cooperation,” he mentioned.

Individually, U.S. Particular Envoy for Iran Robert Malley tweeted it was unfaithful that Iran had despatched a couple of drones.

“They transferred dozens simply this summer season and have army personnel in occupied Ukraine serving to Russia use them,” he mentioned.

Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly pressed allies to offer extra defenses in opposition to plane and missiles, mentioned he anticipated “excellent news” in coming weeks however gave no particulars. Kyiv, he added, would subsequent week launch a fund-raising marketing campaign to purchase marine drones.

Final month, two senior Iranian officers and two Iranian diplomats informed Reuters Iran had promised to offer Russia with surface-to-surface missiles, along with extra drones.

IRNA quoted Amirabdollahian as saying Tehran and Kyiv had agreed to debate allegations about using Iranian drones however the Ukrainians didn’t present up for talks.

In a response on Fb, Ukrainian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko mentioned Amirabdollahian was spreading “insinuations about an alleged refusal by the Ukrainian facet”.

Amirabdollahian repeated Tehran would “not stay detached” if it have been confirmed Russia had used Iranian drones in opposition to Ukraine.

The European Union final month agreed new sanctions on Iran over drone deliveries, and Britain imposed sanctions on three Iranian army figures and a protection producer.