Ukraine's foreign ministry announced on Monday that it had called in a high-ranking Iranian diplomat to caution about the "catastrophic and irreversible repercussions" for bilateral ties if Tehran was indeed supplying Russia with ballistic missiles, as reported. A senior Iranian official refuted these claims earlier on the same day, labeling them as "psychological warfare." A spokesperson for the European Union deemed the information as "credible."
Last week, CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources, that Iran had provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, as Moscow's war in Ukraine continues more than two and a half years after its 2022 invasion. The Ukrainian foreign ministry disclosed on Telegram that it had summoned Iran's charge d'affaires, Shahriar Amouzegar, and sternly warned him about the potential fallout for relations if the missile delivery was verified.
Earlier, Brigadier Fazlollah Nozari, a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, was quoted by the Iranian Labour News Agency as stating: "No missile was sent to Russia, and this assertion is a form of psychological warfare." Nozari added, "Iran does not support any of the parties involved in the Ukraine-Russia conflict." Western and Ukrainian officials have previously dismissed such denials, citing substantial evidence that Iran has supplied items like Shahed drones to Russia.
EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano stated in an email: "We are cognizant of the credible information shared by allies regarding the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia." He emphasized that if confirmed, "this delivery would signify a significant material escalation in Iran's support for Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine." Stano further noted that EU leaders had previously made it clear they would "respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including with new and substantial restrictive measures against Iran" in response to such actions.
Another European official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the U.S. had shared information on the alleged transfer with allies and was likely to make it public soon. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented that he had seen the report but cautioned that not all such reports are accurate. "Iran is our significant partner, and we are advancing our trade and economic relations, as well as our cooperation and dialogue in all possible areas, including the most sensitive ones," Peskov told reporters.
Ukraine had previously warned that deepening military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow posed a threat to Ukraine, Europe, and the Middle East, urging the international community to intensify pressure on Iran and Russia. The United States stated on Friday that any Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a sharp escalation in the Ukraine war. This sentiment was echoed on Monday by a NATO spokesperson, who noted that the Western military alliance was aware of the media reports but would not comment on their accuracy. "As Allies have stated previously, any transfer of ballistic missiles and related technology by Iran to Russia would constitute a substantial escalation," the spokesperson said.
