FM Denies Iranian Ballistic Missile Supply to Russia
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi refuted stories about the contents of his recent meeting with the EU foreign policy chief in New York, reiterating that Tehran has not provided any ballistic missiles to Russia.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, Araqchi dismissed media stories about an alleged admission that Iran has supplied Russia with missiles.
On Saturday, Reuters quoted a high-ranking EU official as saying that Araqchi has told EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York that Iran had supplied “short- range rockets” to Russia that could fly up to 250 kilometers.
The EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, has also claimed that Araqchi insisted the rockets were not ballistic and did not specify when they had been transferred.
In response, the Iranian foreign minister gave an account of what he has told Borrell and deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora in meetings in New York.
“1- Iran-Russia military cooperation is not new; has a history, long before the Ukrainian crisis began. 2- Some Europeans have provided Israeli regime with all kinds of sophisticated weapons, and anxiously engaged in military operation against Iran. 3- US Maximum Pressure policy is still in place, and business community in Europe follows OFAC instructions in full,” Araqchi said of what he has told the EU officials.
“I clearly said, and reiterate once again: we've NOT provided ballistic missiles to Russia. If Europe needs a case to appease Israel's blackmail, better find another story,” the Iranian foreign minister stated.