Iran not an exporter of weapons to Russia or Ukraine: Kanaani

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani answered questions on Monday during his weekly press briefing regarding the latest regional and international developments.

Kanaani slammed American interference in Iranian affairs as "hypocritical", adding that "Americans' move of directly supporting the recent riots in Iran is a repetition of the wrong policy that yields no results." The US, proven to have supported the riots, claims that the talks concerning removing sanctions against Iran have ended, but he commented that "they are both hypocrites and liars."

After US President Joe Biden asserted his position earlier this month on imposing "further costs" in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, Iran called the US out for "hypocrisy" on human rights as well. 

He condemned the sanctions on October 16 after they were imposed, describing them as violations of international law and straight interference. He said in an Instagram post, hitting at the US' sanctions as well, that "Biden's support for protests and rioters is a blatant interference in our internal affairs, which we categorically refuse."

He further denounced the UK's non-constructive approach when it comes to his country's internal developments by reiterating that Iran will take proportionate countermeasures in response to the non-constructive behavior. One of the approaches entails the recent sanctions imposed by the EU over the allegation that Iran shipped drones to Russia, which led Kanaani to warn that Iran "will definitely take reciprocal and proportional action in the coming days."

On the topic of an alleged delayed response to the drones claim, Kanaani denied the allegations and instead expressed that Iranian senior and high-ranking authorities have constantly exhibited their stance on the war in Ukraine, with Iran's position on the matter already clearly understood.

Kanaani pointed fingers at provocations by the US and Europe for exacerbating the war in Ukraine and decried their accusation of Iran of taking sides and spreading false information.

Just last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian published a Twitter post taking a jab at the EU for resorting to ineffective tools by miscalculating and taking an unconstructive measure based on false information. 

Down a well-worn path of ineffective sanctions, the EU today adopted further superfluous sanctions on Iranian persons. It is an unconstructive act out of miscalculation, based on widespread disinformation. Riots and vandalism are not tolerated anywhere; Iran is no exception.

— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) October 17, 2022

Iran has previously and repeatedly stated that it does not take a side in the war by emphasizing that it is not an exporter or shipper of weapons to either Russia or Ukraine. "The relationship with the two countries is friendly and our amicable relationship with Ukraine, which has been decreased due to the creation of the atmosphere of other parties, remains in place,” Kanaani said. 

After stressing that those accusations against Iran of favoring one side represent nothing more than "a media warfare waged by Western media outlets," he labeled the behavior of the West that has been pushing for chaos and instability as "illegal". 

In light of the recent developments in the JCPOA revival talks, Kanaani said, "The US says that the negotiations have been stopped but it sends messages to Iran over the resumption of negotiations."

However, he did announce that if the US exhibits the political will, then a restoration of the agreement will be ready and continued to advise them against betting on more riots to force Iran to concede its right at the negotiating table.

As for the ongoing IRGC Ground Forces military drill conducted in the northern borders, Kanaani assured that the drills pose no threat to neighboring nations.