Iran acknowledges sending drones to Russia before Ukraine war, rejects reports on sending ballistic missiles

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has acknowledged that Tehran provided drones to Russia. However, he clarified, they were sent before the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

Amir-Abdollahian made the comments to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the UN hosted by Tehran.

He said “a limited number” of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, were provided to Russia in the months before the Ukraine war as part of a defense cooperation deal between the two sides.

Abdollahian strongly rejected reports about Iran planning to supply ballistic missiles to Russia to be used in the Ukraine war.

The top Iranian diplomat said the drones supplied to Russia were not meant for use in the Ukraine war, emphasizing that arming one of the sides in the war goes against the country’s “principled policies”.

Tensions have heightened between Tehran and Kyiv amid accusations by Ukrainian and American officials of Iran supplying drones to Russia to be used in Ukraine.

Some Western media outlets have in recent months published photos of what they claim are remains of Iranian-made drones, Shahed-136 and Mohajer-6, allegedly used in Ukraine by Russian forces.

Abdollahian added that relations between Iran and Russia are “based on the principles of neighborliness and mutual interests”, but if it’s proven that Moscow used Iranian-made drones in Ukraine, Tehran “will not be indifferent” to the issue.

The top Iranian diplomat said his country’s position is to “end the war” through dialogue and “return of refugees” to their homes.