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Iranian drones in Ukraine: Moscow and Tehran deny, the European Union prepares sanctions

The Russian ambassador to the UN assured that the drones used by Vladimir Putin’s army in Ukraine “were manufactured in Russia.” He also warned the UN secretary general in case of an “absolutely unprofessional and political” investigation.

Russia and Iran flatly denied on Wednesday at the UN any supply by Tehran of armed drones to Moscow in its war in Ukraine, while the European Union promised future sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

One after another, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polianski, and the Iranian ambassador, Amir Said Iravani, took turns facing the press at the gate of the Security Council after a two-hour closed-door meeting, Westerners’ request, on the issue of Iranian drones in Ukraine.

The Russian diplomat, ironic and very animated, lambasted “unfounded accusations, conspiracy theories and failure to present evidence before the Security Council.” Dmitry Polianski claimed that the drones “used by the Russian army in Ukraine were made in Russia” and therefore are not of Iranian origin.

The Iranian ambassador also dismissed “baseless and unsubstantiated accusations” about this alleged transfer of drones between the two allies and reiterated that his country wants a “peaceful solution” to the Ukrainian conflict.

However, during the vote organized on October 12 by the UN General Assembly to condemn the “illegal” Russian annexation of eastern Ukraine, Tehran abstained along with 34 other member states.

Threat against the UN Secretary General

To his denial, the Russian Polianski added a threat to the Secretary General of the UN and its boss Antonio Guterres. In the event of an “absolutely unprofessional and political” UN investigation to determine the origin of the drones in Ukraine, “we would have to reconsider our collaboration with them (the general secretariat), which would not be in anyone’s interest,” launched the diplomatic.

In Brussels, the spokeswoman for European diplomacy, Nabila Massrali, announced that the EU had gathered “sufficient evidence” showing that the drones used by Moscow were supplied by Tehran. She said the 27 were preparing “a clear, fast and firm European response”.

A list of sanctions has been sent to them and a decision is expected “during the week”, according to a diplomatic source. These sanctions target in particular the Iranian company Shahed Aviation Industries, linked to the powerful Revolutionary Guards, and three military officials, including General Mohammed Hossein Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Author: GA with AFP
Source: BFM TV

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