A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander denied studies that Iran was transferring missiles to Russia, Iranian media stated on Monday, amid concern within the West that they may very well be deployed within the battle in Ukraine.
CNN and the Wall Road Journal reported final week, citing unidentified sources, that Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
Brigadier Fazlollah Nozari, deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, was quoted by the Iranian Labour Information Company as saying: “No missile was despatched to Russia and this declare is a form of psychological warfare.”
“Iran doesn’t help any of the events to the Ukraine-Russia battle,” Nozari stated.
The European Union, in contrast, on Monday described the knowledge within the media studies as credible.
“We’re conscious of the credible data supplied by allies on the supply of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia,” EU overseas affairs spokesperson Peter Stano stated in an electronic mail.
“We’re trying additional into it with our Member States and if confirmed, this supply would signify a substantive materials escalation in Iran’s help for Russia’s unlawful battle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine,” he stated.
EU leaders had beforehand stated they might “reply swiftly and in coordination with worldwide companions, together with with new and vital restrictive measures in opposition to Iran” to such a step, Stano added.
“I can’t verify the studies that the switch has occurred,” White Home spokesperson John Kirby stated in Washington. Such a state of affairs would have a deleterious results on each Ukraine and the Center East, he added.
Requested in regards to the studies on Monday, the Kremlin stated that Iran is Russia’s associate and that the 2 nations have been creating dialogue in all areas.
Ukraine stated final week that deepening army cooperation between Tehran and Moscow was a menace to Ukraine, Europe and the Center East, and known as on the worldwide group to extend stress on Iran and Russia.
Any Iranian switch of ballistic missiles to Russia would mark a pointy escalation within the Ukraine battle, america stated on Friday.
That language was echoed on Monday by a NATO spokesperson, who stated the Western army alliance was conscious of the media studies however wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not they have been correct.
“As Allies have acknowledged beforehand, any switch of ballistic missiles and associated know-how by Iran to Russia would signify a considerable escalation,” the spokesperson stated.
Tehran and Moscow have drawn nearer since Russia ordered tens of 1000’s of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, with Iran supplying its Shahed drones to Russia’s army.
