UK accuses Russia of 'trading' weapons with Iran
Britain's UN ambassador, Barbara Woodward, said Russia was trying to buy more weapons from Iran, including hundreds of ballistic missiles, and in return was providing Iran with unprecedented levels of technical and military assistance.
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Illustration photo: Reuters |
Iran has shipped hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia since August, according to the British ambassador. Several senior Iranian officials and diplomats also said Iran had pledged to supply Russia with surface-to-surface missiles and drones. However, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council that Russia had "repeatedly" denied receiving military equipment from Iran.
Previously, on December 7, the US announced that it was aware of Iran's continued supply of Iranian drones to Russia, but Washington has not seen evidence that Iran transferred ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine.
Responding to the press, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US is very concerned about the "increasingly deep defense partnership" between Iran and Russia and will seek to break that relationship.
Both Iran and Russia have rejected Western accusations that Russia is using Iranian drones to attack targets in Ukraine./.
