Iran has strongly denied allegations made by NATO that it is supplying ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia for use in the military campaign against Ukraine.
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani dismissed NATO's claims as "totally baseless and politically-motivated." These accusations were made by NATO leaders in a declaration issued on Wednesday, stating that North Korea and Iran were directly supporting Russia’s military operations in Ukraine with munitions and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). They warned that any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would be a significant escalation.
Kan'ani countered that the current conflict in Ukraine stems from NATO's "provocative" actions, primarily driven by the United States. He asserted that linking Iran's cooperation with Russia to the Ukraine war is an attempt to justify Western interference and military support for Ukraine.
Reiterating Iran's stance, Kan'ani emphasized that Iran has not provided drones to Russia during the Ukraine conflict and advocates for resolving the crisis through diplomatic means to ensure lasting peace. Iran has consistently refuted claims of supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine or to anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. groups in the region.
The ongoing situation in Ukraine has seen extensive military aid from the U.S. to Kiev, with the State Department reporting approximately $51.4 billion in assistance since the war began. Meanwhile, Russia has warned that Western arms shipments to Ukraine will only extend the conflict.