Iranian president seeks Ukraine peace talks, denies missile shipments to Russia

This stance contradicts US intelligence reports claiming Iran has supplied both drones and ballistic missiles to Russian forces.

Sep 23, 2024 - 18:00

Iranian president seeks Ukraine peace talks, denies missile shipments to Russia

Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed interest in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine while denying recent allegations of Iranian missile shipments to Russia, according to statements made at the UN General Assembly in New York.

This comes amid news that Iran has supplied Russia with Fath-360 ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine but withheld mobile launchers, possibly to retain diplomatic leverage during the UN General Assembly. Despite denials from Tehran, Iran is also accused of providing “Shahed” drones to Russia.

“We have not approved Russian aggression against Ukrainian territory,” said Pezeshkian, as per The Washington Post.

He also emphasized the importance of respecting national borders, the Guardian reports. He claimed that during his presidency, no short-range missiles had been sent from Iran to Russia for use in Ukraine.

“We do not seek war in Ukraine either. And up to now, to the point that I’ve been able to follow through since I’ve taken office, we have not, and we will not supply them with any ballistic missiles,” Pezeshkian said.

However, the Biden administration has accused Iran of playing a broader role in fueling global instability, including supplying Russia with arms for its war against Ukraine.

Pezeshkian’s statement carefully addressed only his tenure as president, leaving open the possibility that a contract to send missiles may have been signed by his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, as suggested by US intelligence reports.

Pezeshkian also spoke about tensions involving Israel and Palestine. He warned that Iran would respond to the July assassination of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran but stated, “we do not wish to be the causes of instability in the region.”

The US has condemned Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia and imposed sanctions on Iran Air, as well as several companies and officials.

The governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have also condemned Iran’s export of ballistic missiles to Russia. These countries have promised to take immediate action to cancel bilateral aviation agreements with Iran.

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