Iran asks meeting with Kiev to discuss drone factory in Russia claims
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Iran requests a joint expert meeting with Ukraine to remove misunderstandings about claims of an Iranian drone factory in Russia
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Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations
Tehran's envoy to the UN has requested a joint meeting of Iranian and Ukrainian experts to dissolve misunderstandings that surfaced due to a news report published earlier claiming that Iran is planning to establish a drone production facility in Russia to be used in the war in Ukraine.
The Washington Post reported last week that Moscow and Tehran reached a deal to launch a drone production facility in Russia that is expected to produce its first batch of drones in the next few months.
Ukraine and its western allies have long been accusing Iran of supplying drones to Russia to be used in the war, without supporting the claims with any evidence.
Read more: Biden discusses Iranian drones in Ukraine with Israeli President
Iran has previously and repeatedly stated that it will not side in the war, emphasizing that it is not an exporter or shipper of weapons to either Russia or Ukraine, and denied that it has provided Moscow with weapons to be used in Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Kiev canceled a scheduled meeting with Iran at the last moment to discuss allegations of Tehran's supply of drones to Russia, where Ukraine was requested to introduce documents proving the accusations against Tehran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated earlier that his country did, indeed, give a small batch of drones to Russia, but that was before the Ukraine war broke out.
Read more: 'Israel' gives Russia ultimatum over 'Iranian arms supplies' - reports
