Patience ‘not endless’: Iran sends chilling threat to Zelensky for accusing Tehran of arming Russia
Rachel Schilke
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Iran issued a statement directed at Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian president accused the regime of supplying Russia with drones.
Zelensky addressed Congress on Wednesday to thank the United States for its aid in helping Ukraine battle against Russia’s invasion and implore lawmakers for more support, both financially and morally.
In his speech, Zelensky addressed the horrors faced by Ukrainian soldiers and citizens, referring to it as a genocide.
He referenced a Russian air strike that took place against Ukraine on Monday that allegedly used Iranian-made drones to attack Kyiv and damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Russia found an ally in this genocidal policy — Iran,” Ukraine’s president said. “Iranian deadly drones sent to Russia in the hundreds became a threat to our critical infrastructure. That is how one terrorist has found the other.”
Tehran, however, did not approve of this statement. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned Zelensky’s “repeated accusations” and “rude remarks” that he made before Congress in a statement on the ministry’s website.
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Kanaani said that Iran respects the “territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine” and reiterated that the regime has not given military hardware to either side.
“Mr. Zelensky had better know that Iran’s strategic patience over such unfounded accusations is not endless,” the Iranian spokesman said.
He added that Ukraine should take a lesson from the “fate of other political leaders who contended themselves with support from the U.S.”
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However, not everyone believes Iran’s claim of innocence. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has warned about the growing relationship between Tehran and Moscow within recent months, stating that Iran has become Russia’s “top military backer.”
Kirby said on Monday that he is concerned Russia and Iran are creating a “full-fledged defense partnership” and providing each other advanced military components after Iranian pilots reportedly trained with Russians and Tehran sent hundreds of drones to Moscow.