Iran asserts playing no role in Ukraine-Russia war

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani made the remarks on Sunday, a day after US media alleged that Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, citing unidentified sources.

Kan’ani said that Tehran’s principled approach to the Ukraine crisis remains “unchanged” and that “completely baseless” claims about the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia are in line with the political objectives of some Western countries.

“As it has been emphasized time and again, the Islamic Republic opposes the war and supports a political solution to resolve differences between Russia and Ukraine and end military conflicts,” he added.

“Since the start of the Ukraine crisis, Iran has never been a part of the military conflict and its continuation, and it has always supported a political solution and bilateral talks to end the battle.”

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.

Iran has categorically rejected the unfounded accusations, saying the Western countries are escalating the war through the supply of advanced weaponry to Kiev.

Russia has also warned that the flow of Western arms to Ukraine is prolonging the conflict.