Accused Of Sending Drones To Russia, Iranian Foreign Minister: We Are Not Helping Any Of The Parties Involved In The Ukraine Conflict

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, did not confirm the sale of military equipment to Russia, including unmanned aerial vehicles, ensuring Tehran avoids any move that could lead to an escalation in Ukraine, in an interview with La Repubblica newspaper published on Wednesday.

"We have various forms of cooperation with Russia, including in the defense sector, but we are not helping any of the parties involved in the Ukraine conflict, because we believe it must be resolved", he said.

"I think right now the problem is elsewhere, some Western countries, including the US, are making weapons and trying to sell their products. We are trying to avoid any action that could lead to escalation. We are working to stop this war", he said of a statement by US President Jake Sullivan's National Security Adviser on Iran's plans to send drones to Russia.

As previously reported, newly declassified US intelligence revealed that Iran is expected to supply Russia with "hundreds" of drones, including armed drones, for use in the war in Ukraine, Sullivan said.

Furthermore, he said Tehran was also ready to provide training for Moscow troops on how to operate the drones given as early as possible.

"Information indicates that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred (unmanned aerial vehicles), including weapons-capable UAVs at an accelerated rate", national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference.

"Our information further indicates that Iran is preparing to train Russian troops to use these UAVs, with an initial training session scheduled for early July. It is not clear whether Iran has delivered any of these UAVs to Russia", he continued.

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council told CNN that the information Sullivan explained to reporters was based on recently disclosed intelligence.

Sullivan argued that the news about Iran supplying the drones was proof that Russia's attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks came at a severe cost, due to the depletion of its own weapons.