Iran Denies Claims of Weapons Transfers to Russia, Calls Them ‘Propaganda’ – Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed reports of weapons transfers to Russia as "ugly propaganda," claiming they are intended to distract from Western military support for Israel. This assertion came on Tuesday following announcements from Western powers about imposing new sanctions on Tehran.

Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, criticized the dissemination of what he described as false and misleading information regarding Iranian arms transfers. He stated that such claims serve to mask the extensive illegal arms support provided by the United States and other Western nations, which he accused of facilitating "genocide in Gaza."

On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that Russia had acquired ballistic missiles from Iran, which may be employed in the conflict in Ukraine within weeks. He warned that the partnership between Moscow and Tehran poses a risk to broader European security.

In collaboration with the United States, Britain, Germany, and France announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, targeting entities including the national airline, Iran Air.

Additionally, the trio of European nations revealed their decision to discontinue bilateral air service agreements with Tehran.

Kanaani responded to these actions, stating that the measures by the European countries represent an extension of the West’s antagonistic policy and economic aggression against the Iranian people, promising a proportionate response from Iran.

Iran is currently one of the most heavily sanctioned nations globally, and experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of further economic penalties, suggesting they may adversely affect the middle class more than the Iranian leadership.