TEHRAN -- Iran on Thursday hit out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his continued accusations — backed by the U.S. and Europe — that the Islamic Republic is providing attack drones to Russia for mass use in strikes on Ukraine.
Addressing the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, Zelensky railed at Moscow’s increasing use of missiles and drones to target Ukrainian cities out of Russian artillery range.
“Russia found an ally in this, in this genocidal policy: Iran,” he said. “Iranian deadly drones sent to Russia in hundreds and hundreds became a threat to our critical infrastructure. That is how one terrorist has found the other.”
Responding to Zelensky’s “repeated accusations and rude remarks,” Iran’s foreign ministry again denied supplying drones or other military equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine and asserted that Tehran respects all countries’ territorial integrity.
“Mr. Zelensky had better know that Iran’s strategic patience over such unfounded accusations is not endless,” spokesman Nasser Kanaani was quoted as saying in a ministry statement.
The statement said Kanaani also recommended that Zelensky learn “from the fate of some other political leaders who contented themselves with the U.S. support.”
Both the United States and European Union have sanctioned Iranian firms and entities, basely accusing them of being involved in the transfer of drones to Russia.
On Sunday, Kanaani said Iran would not “seek permission from anyone” to expand ties with Russia, dismissing U.S. concerns over a growing military partnership between Tehran and Moscow.
Earlier this month, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Muhammad Reza Ashtiani said Ukrainian experts had failed to produce any evidence for Kiev’s claims that Russia has employed Iranian military drones in the war in Ukraine.
He noted that experts from Iran and Ukraine have held a meeting to discuss the allegations.
“In the technical meeting, the Ukrainian side did not present any document about Russia’s employment of Iranian drones in the war with that country (Ukraine) and shelved it for the next sessions,” the general said.