Iranian top diplomat denies selling drones to Russia

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has not confirmed the sale of military equipment to Russia, including unmanned aerial vehicles, assuring that Tehran avoids any steps that may result in an escalation in Ukraine in his interview with La Repubblica newspaper published on Wednesday.

"We have various forms of cooperation with Russia, including in the sphere of defense, but we are not helping either side involved in the [Ukrainian] conflict because we are certain that it should be concluded. I think that currently the problem is elsewhere - some Western countries, including the US, are manufacturing arms and trying to sell their products," the Iranian top diplomat said commenting on remarks by U.S. Presidential National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Iran’s plans to send drones to Russia.

"We are trying to avoid any actions that may lead to an escalation. We are working on stopping this war," he added.