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Iran has not provided ballistic missiles to Russia: FM

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (file photo)

Iran has once again rejected claims about supplying Russia with ballistic missiles amid reports that the European Union will use the accusations as a pretext to impose sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in an X post on Sunday, two days after Reuters reported that EU foreign ministers will approve sanctions on 14 individuals and organizations, including airlines and other companies, over alleged Iranian missile transfer to Russia.

“I clearly said, and reiterate once again: we've NOT provided ballistic missiles to Russia,” he said.

He also noted that the military cooperation between Iran and Russia “is not new; has a history, long before the Ukrainian crisis began.”

The top diplomat further said that the European countries, which have provided the Israeli regime with “sophisticated weapons, and anxiously engaged in military operation against Iran,” are now trying to “appease” Israel by making up a case against Tehran and taking restrictive measures.

“If Europe needs a case to appease Israel's blackmail, better find another story,” he added.

Last month, the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran’s flag carrier, Iran Air, as the UK, France, and Germany announced plans to do the same over what they alleged to be the country’s export of ballistic missiles to Russia.

Araghchi said at the time that “faulty intelligence and flawed logic” have once again led Washington and its European allies to slap sanctions on Iran.

“Sanction addicts should ask themselves: how is Iran able to make & supposedly sell sophisticated arms?” he wrote on X. “Sanctions are NOT a solution, but part of problem.”

Russia launched what it called a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 partly to prevent NATO’s eastward expansion after warning that the US-led military alliance was following an “aggressive line” against Moscow.

Iran has maintained its policy of impartiality regarding the conflict.

However, the US and its Western allies have repeatedly claimed that Iran is supplying weapons to Russia for direct use in the Ukraine war.

Tehran has categorically dismissed the unfounded accusations, saying the West is escalating the war through the supply of advanced weaponry to Kiev.


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