Tehran stated that sending Ukrainian specialists to the region could be a “war crime”
The Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani, accused Ukraine of “actively participating in military aggression” against the Islamic Republic.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing NBC.
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What exactly did Iran say
In a letter, Iravani emphasized that sending Ukrainian specialists to the region “constitutes active participation in military aggression against Iran.” According to him, Ukraine “takes on international responsibility for aiding or facilitating the commission of an internationally wrongful act.”
The Iranian diplomat noted that this refers to “providing operational and technical assistance that directly contributes to the use of force and acts of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.”
He also added that deliberately targeting civilian industrial infrastructure for the purpose of economic pressure or collective punishment could represent serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes.
Context of the accusation
The statement from Tehran came after it became known that Ukrainian drone countermeasure experts are assisting U.S. allies suffering from Iranian drone attacks in the region.
The Iranian authorities view this as direct interference in the conflict on the side of the adversary.
Ukraine’s reaction
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tikhiy published a response to Tehran’s accusations on social media X (Twitter):
“How to tell if a representative of the Iranian regime is lying? If his lips are moving – he is lying,” he wrote.
Tikhiy reminded that since 2022, Iran has supplied Russia with nearly 60,000 drones, which are used by the RF to attack Ukraine. At the same time, no Ukrainian drone has ever targeted Iranian territory.
“This liar should have disappeared long ago along with his regime,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman added.
It is worth noting that in recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified negotiations with Gulf countries regarding the export of interceptor drones and the provision of technical assistance.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has held a series of meetings with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and Ukrainian drone countermeasure specialists have already arrived in the region.
Previously, Tehran had already issued threats against Ukraine in connection with its cooperation with countries in the region. Iranian officials have referred to Ukraine as a “legitimate target” due to its alleged provision of drone assistance to Israel.
Additionally, Iranian propaganda spread false information about an alleged strike on a warehouse of Ukrainian anti-drone systems in Dubai – this information was denied in Ukraine.
