Germany urges Iran to end support for Russia and halt weapon exports

A part of an unmanned aerial vehicle, what Ukrainian military authorities described as an Iranian made suicide drone Shahed-136 and which was shot down near the town of Kupiansk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, is seen in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released September 13, 2022.
A part of an unmanned aerial vehicle, what Ukrainian military authorities described as an Iranian made suicide drone Shahed-136 and which was shot down near the town of Kupiansk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, is seen in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released September 13, 2022.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged the Iranian state to end its support for Russia in the Ukraine war and stop exporting weapons during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday.

In a meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations Security Council in New York, Germany’s top diplomat called on Tehran to stop exporting ballistic missiles and drones.

In a statement on its X account, the German Foreign Ministry also noted that the discussions with Araghchi addressed "concerns about the Iranian nuclear program and Germans imprisoned in Iran."

The same day, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted a picture of her meeting with Araghchi, saying she had raised concerns about “human rights and Iranian-Russian military cooperation.”

These diplomatic talks come as the US and the UK formally accused Iran earlier this month of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine, leading to a fresh wave of sanctions on both Moscow and Tehran.

The European Union has similarly imposed sanctions on Iran over its missile transfers, in addition to those already in place due to Tehran's nuclear activities and human rights abuses.

“We call on Iran to immediately cease all support to Russia’s war against Ukraine and halt the development and transfer of its ballistic missiles,” France, Germany, and the UK said in a joint statement. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed this sentiment, warning that Iran’s actions represented a "profound escalation" of the war.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media at the UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 25, 2024.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media at the UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 25, 2024.

Blinken revealed that dozens of Russian military personnel had been trained in Iran to operate the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, which has a range of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles).

"Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukrainians," Blinken said in early September, emphasizing that the supply of Iranian missiles allows Russia to target more distant locations while conserving its own arsenal for frontline engagements.

Iran has previously supplied Shahed drones, widely used by Russia in Ukraine, but has denied providing ballistic missiles.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani dismissed reports of missile transfers as "ugly propaganda" meant to distract from Western military aid to Israel.

A Russian cargo ship, suspected of carrying Iranian ballistic missiles intended for Moscow's war against Ukraine, was observed at a Russian port on the Caspian Sea about two weeks ago, according to satellite imagery shared with CNN.

Additionally, Russia has used Iranian Shahed drones, extensively in large-scale attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets, often in combination with cruise and ballistic missiles, which have overwhelmed Ukraine’s air defenses.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, meanwhile, denied the assertions, accusing Western nations of acting on "faulty intelligence and flawed logic."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his first press conference, also denied any involvement in missile deliveries to Russia.

Responding to a question from a Japanese journalist, Pezeshkian said, "As for the relationship between the Islamic Republic and Russia, I can say with certainty that since we took office, we have not provided them with anything."

While Pezeshkian expressed no knowledge of missile transfers under his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, or previous administrations, he affirmed, "We have and will continue to have relations with Russia."