Nournews: The war between Russia and Ukraine has been underway since Feb. 2022 in an exhausting state, while American and European officials have been seeking those responsible for the crisis, punishing them at certain intervals to free themselves from this costly erosion.
These days, Iran, China, and other independent nations are being accused of supporting Russia in the Ukraine war. However, the Washington adventurers who wished for NATO in Siberia are primarily responsible for the Volodymyr Zelensky-Vladimir Putin conflict, not Tehran or Beijing. In these dream scenarios, the fate of the people is the least important consideration.
After 30 months since the beginning of a crisis that was supposed to end in a month, European and American governments have accused Iran of sending ballistic missiles to Russia. Just like their previous accusations about sending Shahed drones, they do not have evidence beyond media claims. In fact, they are looking for a new pretext to impose sanctions on Iran. Behind the curtains, the US and Europe are trying to deflect their responsibility and project it onto others.
From Shahed drone to ballistic missile
The Europeans' strange insistence about the export of weaponry by Iran to Russia was repeated, this time by accusing Iran of sending ballistic missiles to Russia. The West had accused Iran of sending Shahed drones to Russia in a new scenario in autumn 2022. The story of selling ballistic missiles to Russia by Iran was mirrored in the American Wall Street Journal after some American officials and newspapers reported it. The newspaper claimed that Iran had sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which could be a powerful instrument in the Ukraine war. This marked the beginning of a domino-like reaction by both Iranian and Western officials.
Iranian officials’ reactions
Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, stated, “Iran has not sent ballistic missiles to Russia! Once more, the US and Europe have acted based on false information and faulty logic. Those addicted to sanctions must ask themselves: ‘How is Iran able to make complicated weaponry and sell it, according to your claim? Sanctions are not the solution but part of the problem.’”
Naser Kanaani, the foreign ministry’s spokesman, said, “We are not part of the fight and conflict, and we have repeatedly stated that we believe political solutions are the best option.”
The Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations added, “Iran views sending military aid to warring parties as inhumane, as it distances the possibility of truce negotiations, and thus, Iran does not take such actions.”
General Fazlolah Nozari, Deputy of Operations at Central Khatam-ul Anbia base, said, “Iran has not supported either party in the war and does not acknowledge legitimacy for the conflict. No missile has been sent to Russia, and the claim is part of a psychological war.”
Following these accusations, the heads of the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Germany were separately summoned to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Director General of West Europe. The destructive statements and actions of certain Western countries were harshly condemned.
US reactions
The US response to the claims of Iran sending missiles to Russia came in three phases: it is not confirmed, it has been exported but not used, and sanctions were imposed.
John Kirby, the spokesman for the US National Security Council, and William Burns, the head of the CIA, said on Sept. 9, “The US cannot confirm reports of Iran sending ballistic missiles to Russia.”
Vedant Patel, the spokesman for the US State Department, said on Sept. 10, “Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Patrick Ryder added on the same day, “Russia has received Iran’s ballistic missiles but has not used them so far.”
Antony Blinken confirmed that “Russia has already received shipments of Iranian missiles.”
In response, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Iran Air under the pretext of missile transfers to Russia.
European reactions
Josep Borrell, head of EU Foreign Policy, said that the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia is seen as a direct threat to European security and a dangerous escalation.
The EU Council stated on Sept. 11 that the transfer of missiles poses a direct threat to European security and that Iranian missiles could be used to cause more suffering and destruction in Ukraine.
Ukrainian reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “We cannot confirm the use of missiles. We can only confirm it when evidence is found. Iran has sold more than 1,000 drones and other weapons to Russia.”
A single claim and so many contradictions?
The new series of accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which topped headlines since last Friday, intensified with the release of certain images allegedly tracking ships in the Caspian Sea. It is a vicious cycle chosen by the West in its relations with Iran.
In every such cycle, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains steadfast in its position with greater determination than before, once again putting Western countries in a dilemma. Iran’s strong military capability is now being highlighted in the media, showcasing industries that have withstood heavy sanctions and have been deprived of access to the knowledge needed to produce or import weapons.
However, according to Western admissions, sanctions have had some effect. Although the Islamic Republic of Iran has never cooperated with Russia in the Ukraine war, it has become a nightmare for the West, as highlighted by Abbas Araghchi's tweet: “How is Iran capable of producing complicated weapons and selling them, according to your claims?”
The second contradiction in this seemingly concerned narrative is evident in how the US and European countries treated the Gaza war.
The US government sold a weaponry package worth over $20 billion to the Zionist regime, which was just a single case. The package included 100 F-15 fighters, 120mm ammunition, and medium-range air-to-air missiles, 33,000 tank shells, 50,000 mortars, and military trucks, with the fighters to be delivered by 2029.
Germany, as another main exporter of weapons to the Zionist regime, has issued permits for the export of weapons worth 326.5 million euros to Tel Aviv. By autumn 2023, military exports from Germany to the Zionist regime worth 38.5 million euros had been approved, but this amount increased significantly after Oct. 7.
The reality is that European countries impose sanctions on Iran under the claim that Iran is selling weapons to a warring country, while they are selling the greatest number of weapons to a warring regime. It seems the West, particularly Europe, is insisting on repeating tested methods against Iran—the same methods tested in the summer and autumn of 2022. Based on similar current pretexts, they suspended negotiations with Iran.
Iran knows better than ever that the claims of sending ballistic missiles to Russia are aimed at convincing Ukraine to use American long-range missiles against Russia. Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, has been in Washington since Friday to persuade Biden to permit Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russia. However, given that the White House is against the issue, in the coming days, the accusations will likely diminish, and Europe will look for other ways to escape the Kiev quagmire.
NOURNEWS