Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian made this acknowledgment on Nov. 5, but insisted that the weapons transfers began before the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
This admission comes after weeks of contradictory messages from Iran regarding its weapons shipments that came to light after Russia used Iranian drones – specifically the Shaed-136 kamikaze drone – against targets in Ukraine.
"We gave a limited number of drones to Russia months before the Ukraine war," said Amirabdollahian during a meeting with reporters in Tehran. He added that Iran did not know how Russia was using the drones it supplied and that Tehran remains committed to a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
"If [Ukraine] has any documents in their possession that Russia used Iranian drones in Ukraine, they should provide them to us," said Amirabdollahian. "If it is proven to us that Russia used Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine, we will not be indifferent to this issue."
Previously, Iranian officials vehemently denied providing material support for Russia's special military operation. A few days before Amirabdollahian's admission, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani called the allegations that it is sending drones to Russia "totally unfounded," reiterating Tehran's position of neutrality in the conflict. (Related: Saudi Arabia, US on high alert as they prepare for IMMINENT attack from Iran.)
Iravani made this statement at the same time that officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boasted about providing Iranian-made drones to some of the world's top powers. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also extolled the effectiveness of Iranian drones and mocked the West for being frightened of them.
During recent state-backed demonstrations meant to celebrate the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 – in addition to acting as a counter-protest against the nationwide antigovernment demonstrations – crowds waved placards, including triangle-shaped drones.
Ukraine using Iranian drones as an excuse to ask for more weapons from West
Ukrainian officials have used the presence of Iranian drones as an excuse to ask for more weapons from the West.
In a letter to the United States Congress, Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, called on the U.S. to provide Ukraine with highly mobile air defense systems known as C-RAMs, which stands for Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar.
Stefanchuk said C-RAMs are necessary to help protect Ukrainian buildings, especially energy infrastructure, which Kyiv claimed Moscow is deliberately targeting with Iranian suicide drones.
C-RAMs have a built-in radar system to track incoming threats and uses a massive rapid-fire gun to shoot them down. According to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the most efficient C-RAM systems can fire 4,500 rounds per minute to deter incoming threats.
Kyiv's demand comes less than one week after sophisticated new air-defense missiles supplied by the U.S. became operational in Ukraine. These new weapons, known as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, are being handled allegedly by Ukrainian crew members who were trained in an unspecified European host country.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder noted that the NASAMS will help protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure from "basically any type of advanced aerial threat that Russia may try to employ against Ukrainian targets or civilians."
What this means is that Ukraine already has the right weapons it needs to protect against alleged Russian attacks against energy infrastructure and other so-called civilian targets.
Fortunately, it looks like the Department of Defense is turning down Kyiv's demand – for now. Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Garron Garm said U.S. support "focuses on equipment that is relevant for the current fight."
"We are working around the clock to fulfill Ukraine's priority security assistance requests, delivering weapons from U.S. stocks when they are available," he added.
Ukraine has already admitted that it has an array of methods for deterring and shooting down enemy drones, including sending fighter jets and using shoulder-launched anti-tank and anti-air weapons systems.
Learn more about the conflict in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com.
Watch this clip from InfoWars discussing how Iran, along with Ukraine and Korea, are being prepared for the inevitable global war that will develop within their borders.
This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
The enemy of my enemy is my friend: Russia, Iran forge alliance amid Western sanctions.
Iran says it will sell Russia hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones.
Ukraine-bound weapons shipments will end up in Iran's hands, former Israeli PM Netanyahu warns.
Russia and Iran are cementing an alliance amid global sanctions.
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