Ukraine Summons Iranian Diplomat as Tehran Denies Missile Transfer to Russia

KYIV – Ukraine’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that it summoned a senior Iranian diplomat to express serious concerns over the potential consequences for bilateral relations if claims of Iran supplying ballistic missiles to Russia prove accurate.

An Iranian official promptly denied these reports, labeling them as "psychological warfare." In contrast, a spokesperson from the European Union called the information "credible."

Recent reports from various news outlets indicated that Iran had delivered short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, coinciding with Moscow’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine over two and a half years after the initial invasion in 2022.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry reported via Telegram that it had summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires, Shahriar Amouzegar, and issued a stern warning regarding the implications for their relationship if the missile delivery was validated.

Brigadier Fazlollah Nozari, a senior commander within Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was quoted by the Iranian Labour News Agency asserting that "no missile was sent to Russia" and that such claims are part of psychological warfare, emphasizing that Iran does not support either side in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Despite these denials, Western and Ukrainian officials have previously expressed skepticism, pointing to substantial evidence that Iran has provided military assistance, including drones, to Russia.

The EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson stated in an email that they are aware of credible information from allies regarding the missile deliveries and that confirmation of such actions would represent a major escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.

EU leaders previously indicated that they would respond promptly and in coordination with international partners by implementing new sanctions against Iran if the missile transfer were validated.

An anonymous European official mentioned that the United States had shared information about the alleged missile transfer with its allies and was expected to make this information public soon.

While a White House spokesperson refrained from confirming whether the transfer had occurred, he noted that such actions would have detrimental implications for both Ukraine and the Middle East.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged having seen the reports but argued that not all claims are accurate. He referred to Iran as an important partner for Russia, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing trade and cooperation across various sectors.

Ukraine had previously stated that increasing military collaboration between Tehran and Moscow poses a threat to Ukraine, Europe, and the Middle East, urging the international community to exert more pressure on both nations.

Any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would signify a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to U.S. statements from last Friday.

A NATO spokesperson echoed this sentiment, confirming that the alliance was aware of the media reports but refrained from commenting further on their accuracy.

The spokesperson reiterated that any transfer of ballistic missiles and related technology from Iran to Russia would represent a serious escalation, noting that Moscow has accused Kyiv’s allies of intensifying the conflict by supplying weapons used in Ukrainian operations in Russia’s Kursk region, and has warned of potential repercussions.