Ukraine May Sever Ties with Iran Over Missile Deliveries to Russia, Reports Reuters

By Yuliia Dysa and Anastasiia Malenko

KYIV – On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials indicated that they might sever diplomatic relations with Tehran if Russia were to use ballistic missiles supplied by Iran in its attacks on Ukraine, labeling such deliveries as "unacceptable."

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Russia had received these missiles from Iran over two years after the full-scale invasion began. He anticipated that Moscow would deploy the weapons in the coming weeks, a claim Iran has denied.

Ukraine, already facing an uptick in Russian missile and drone assaults, warned that it would impose severe consequences on its ties with Iran if the missile transfers were confirmed. "While I won’t specify what ‘devastating consequences’ entails to maintain our diplomatic stance, I can assure you that all options are on the table," said foreign ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi when asked about the possibility of cutting ties with Tehran.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not directly address Iran in his nightly address but emphasized the need for a united global response to any nation that supports Russia and President Vladimir Putin. "I want to reach out to anyone considering aiding Putin," Zelenskiy remarked. "We will strive not only to protect our country and its people but to unite the world in responding strongly against those fueling the war or prolonging it."

Ukraine’s allies, including the United States, have characterized the missile deliveries as a significant escalation, pledging further sanctions against Iran. While Ukraine’s chief presidential advisor, Andriy Yermak, viewed these sanctions as a "positive step," he insisted they must be paired with additional measures. "We also require authorization to deploy Western weaponry against military targets in Russia, along with longer-range missile capabilities and improved air defense systems," Yermak stated.

The Kremlin has yet to respond to Blinken’s remarks, but earlier it mentioned the importance of fostering comprehensive dialogue with Iran.

Ukraine had already downgraded its diplomatic relations with Iran in 2022 following Tehran’s provision of Shahed unmanned drones to Russia, which have been used in numerous long-range attacks.

Historically, Iran’s military support for Russia has been most apparent through the supply of drones, which are less potent and more easily intercepted compared to ballistic missiles. Reports emerged in August indicating that Russia was expecting a shipment of hundreds of Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles from Iran and that numerous troops had received training to operate them.