By Gloria Ogbonna
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday strongly rejected accusations from the European Council (EC) that Tehran has been providing military assistance to Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, dismissing the claims as politically motivated and inconsistent with Iran’s stated position on the conflict.
The denial came after the European Council released a statement on Friday following talks with Ukrainian officials. In the statement, the EC condemned what it described as the role of “third countries, actors, and entities” in supporting Russia’s war effort.
The statement explicitly named Iran, Belarus, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), accusing them of providing military support to Moscow.
“The European Council urges all countries to immediately cease any assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, whether direct or indirect, notably through the provision of dual-use goods or components,” the EC said.
Responding to the allegations, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected the claims outright, insisting that Iran has not taken sides militarily in the conflict and continues to support a diplomatic resolution.
Baqaei said Tehran favors ending the war through “dialogue” and political negotiations rather than continued fighting.
He also emphasized that Iran’s economic and diplomatic relations with Russia predate the war in Ukraine and are independent of the conflict.
According to Baqaei, cooperation between Tehran and Moscow should not be interpreted as support for Russia’s military actions. He further accused European leaders of hypocrisy, arguing that while the EC condemns Iran, it openly and actively supports Ukraine in the war.
“Iran–Russia relations are based on mutual respect and shared interests, and these relations are not directed against any third country,” Baqaei said, adding that Iran rejects what it sees as selective outrage from European governments.
Ukraine, however, has repeatedly called on the international community to impose tougher sanctions on Iran, accusing Tehran of “helping Russia in its terror against Ukrainians.” Ukrainian officials have specifically alleged that Iran has supplied Russia with surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, claims Iran continues to deny.
Since the early months of the war, the European Union has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities accused of supplying Russia with military equipment.
These measures have focused heavily on Iran’s alleged provision of Shahed-series kamikaze drones, which Russian forces have used extensively in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Russia later began producing similar drones domestically under different names, according to Western officials.
The EU has also sanctioned Iranian companies and individuals accused of transferring missiles to Russia. U.S. intelligence agencies have claimed that Iran has provided hundreds of close-range and short-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs and SRBMs) to Russia, along with training for Russian personnel on how to operate them—allegations Tehran has consistently denied.
Adding another layer to the controversy, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported in early December that mysterious flyers had begun appearing in Tehran, advertising high-paying jobs for Ukrainian men willing to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
The flyers reportedly offered signing bonuses of up to $20,000 and listed positions such as soldiers, drone operators, and drivers. While most roles appeared to target male recruits, some opportunities were reportedly open to women as well.
RFE contacted a WhatsApp number listed on the flyers and exchanged messages with an individual described as a “simple admin,” who claimed the recruitment effort was part of an official Russian Defense Ministry program and had been cleared with Iranian authorities.
The recruitment campaign also reportedly operates a Telegram channel with more than 2,000 subscribers, featuring messages welcoming “foreign citizens ready to sign a contract and serve with honor,” even if they do not speak Russian.
The Russian Embassy in Tehran has denied any involvement, calling the flyers “forged and criminal in nature.” Some analysts have compared the incident to alleged Russian mercenary recruitment efforts previously reported in countries such as India, Cuba, Kenya, and South Africa.
As the war in Ukraine continues, accusations and denials surrounding foreign involvement remain a major point of tension between Iran, Europe, and Ukraine, further complicating already strained diplomatic relations.
Source Breitbrat
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