Iran is vehemently denying accusations from the US that it supplied Russia with ballistic missiles, both publicly and privately. A senior Iranian diplomat, speaking anonymously to Middle East Eye, confirmed that Russia had requested military assistance from Iran following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, claimed that Iran had sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, capable of impacting the Ukraine war. However, no evidence of this transfer was provided. Blinken also hinted at potential reconsideration of the ban on long-range weapons for attacks on Russian territory.
Iran has been accused of supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine, but the diplomat clarified that these sales occurred before the conflict began. The former diplomat suggested that Russia may have leaked news of the drone sale to portray Iran negatively.
In response to the allegations, the UK, France, and Germany imposed sanctions on Iran. The senior Iranian diplomat dismissed the accusations as misunderstandings and expressed Iran’s willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve the issues.
Iran’s foreign ministry reiterated its neutral stance on the Ukraine war and criticized the claims as politically motivated. The recent developments have strained Iran’s relations with the West, potentially strengthening ties between Tehran and Moscow.
The analyst believes that the West’s approach could backfire by driving Iran closer to Russia and hindering potential reconciliation efforts. He criticized the counterproductive nature of Western policies towards Iran in recent years, pushing Tehran towards deeper cooperation with Moscow.
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