Iran says it shipped drones to Russia before Ukraine war

Iran acknowledged for the archetypal clip connected Saturday that it had supplied Moscow with drones but said they were sent earlier the warfare successful Ukraine, wherever Russia has utilized them to people powerfulness stations and civilian infrastructure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said a "small number" of drones had been shipped a fewer months earlier Russia's Feb 24 invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Tehran of lying, saying Kyiv's forces were downing astatine slightest 10 of the unmanned aerial vehicles each day.

In Iran's astir elaborate effect to date, Amirabdollahian denied Tehran was continuing to proviso drones to Moscow.

"This fuss made by immoderate Western countries that Iran has provided missiles and drones to Russia to assistance the warfare successful Ukraine - the rocket portion is wholly wrong," the authoritative IRNA quality bureau quoted him arsenic saying.

"The drone portion is existent and we provided Russia a tiny fig of drones months earlier the Ukraine war," helium said.

In caller weeks Ukraine has reported a surge successful drone attacks connected civilian infrastructure, notably targeting powerfulness stations and dams, utilizing Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Russia denies its forces person utilized Iranian drones to onslaught Ukraine.

In a video address, Zelenskyy dismissed speech of constricted Iranian supplies to Russia, saying Ukraine had downed 11 drones connected Friday alone.

"If Iran continues to prevarication astir the obvious, it means the satellite volition marque adjacent much efforts to analyse the violent practice betwixt the Russian and Iranian regimes and what Russia pays Iran for specified cooperation," helium said.

Separately, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley tweeted it was untrue that Iran had sent a fewer drones.

"They transferred dozens conscionable this summertime and person subject unit successful occupied Ukraine helping Russia usage them," helium said.

Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly pressed allies to supply much defenses against craft and missiles, said helium expected "good news" successful coming weeks but gave nary details. Kyiv, helium added, would adjacent week motorboat a fund-raising run to bargain marine drones.

Last month, 2 elder Iranian officials and 2 Iranian diplomats told Reuters Iran had promised to supply Russia with surface-to-surface missiles, successful summation to much drones.

IRNA quoted Amirabdollahian arsenic saying Tehran and Kyiv had agreed to sermon allegations astir the usage of Iranian drones but the Ukrainians did not amusement up for talks.

In a effect connected Facebook, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said Amirabdollahian was spreading "insinuations astir an alleged refusal by the Ukrainian side".

Amirabdollahian repeated Tehran would "not stay indifferent" if it were proven Russia had utilized Iranian drones against Ukraine.

The European Union past period agreed caller sanctions connected Iran implicit drone deliveries, and Britain imposed sanctions connected 3 Iranian subject figures and a defence manufacturer.