Iran says Ukraine failed to prove drone claims  

TEHRAN — Iran's Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said Monday that Kyiv's claims that Tehran is supplying Russia with Iranian drones to be used in its war on Ukraine are "baseless."   

"At the technical meeting, the Ukrainian side did not present any evidence suggesting Russia's use of Iranian drones in its war on that country," Ashtiani declared in reference to a meeting between Iranian and Ukrainian military experts in November. He noted that Ukrainian representatives have refrained from providing such proof.  

The general downplayed Kyiv's assertions as "unimportant" and not deserving investigation "because most of those statements are based on rumors."       

Iran has been repeatedly dismissive of reported drone supplies but in the meantime has offered seemingly contradictory and ambiguous arguments. While Tehran points out its military ties with Moscow date back to well before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the defense minister added that there has been "no cooperation with regard to the use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war."