Iran-Russia defense cooperation not against any third party: FM spokesman

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman says defense cooperation between Tehran and Moscow dates back to years before the start of the war in Ukraine, stressing that this cooperation is not against any third country.

"Military and defense ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation sit in the framework of mutual interests of the two states and are not against any third country," Nasser Kana'ani told Sputnik on Friday.

Iran and Russia have a long history of military cooperation which did not start since the eruption of conflict in Ukraine, he said.

The remarks come as exactly one year has passed since Russia started what it calls a special military operation against Ukraine which according to Moscow aims to stop Kiev's persecution of pro-Russian population in eastern Ukraine and to "de-Nazify" the ex-Soviet republic.

Western countries have also accused Iran of sending military drones to Russia. Tehran has strongly rejected the allegations, noting that it has not sent any drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war.

CIA chief’s claims on Iran-Russia cooperation part of ‘propaganda war’: Tehran

The CIA director has claimed that the nascent defense partnership between Tehran and Moscow has affected the battlefield in Ukraine.

Those who are regularly waging propaganda against Iran and wrongly accuse it of supporting Russia during the Ukraine conflict should "take a look at the volume of their arms shipments" to the one side of the conflict, highlighted Kana'ani.

Measures of the countries that are exporting arms worth tens of billions of dollars to the one side of the conflict are not helping to end the war, he said, adding, these states do not seek a "political approach" to put an end to the war.

The Islamic Republic of Iran put efforts since the start of the conflict to find a political solution to end the war, he added.

Iran and Ukraine have a history of friendly relations, the diplomat noted, adding that the level of ties has decreased since last year due to the situation in Ukraine and Western countries' political pressures on Kiev.

"Relations between Iran and Russia are based on the political will of the leaders of the two countries," Kan'ani said.

Iran and Russian enjoy great, joint, and complementary economic capacities, said the spokesman, adding that the bilateral cooperation is expanding in various areas such as economy, industry, energy, and transportation, for the benefit of the two nations.

Iran supports forming cross-regional group of states to help end Ukraine conflict

Iran calls for prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy for ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

A day earlier, Iran's Ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani told the UN General Assembly that Tehran has not changed its stance with regard to the war in Ukraine.

"We are steadfast in our commitment to upholding the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States," he said.

Iravani added that the ongoing conflict is "detrimental to both parties as neither can earn any long-term advantage. It is crucial for all involved parties to abandon the military ambitions and prioritize finding a peaceful diplomatic resolution."

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