UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The United States, Britain and France on Friday demanded that the United Nations urgently investigate Russia’s alleged use of hundreds of Iran-supplied drones in the war in Ukraine, in violation of UN sanctions. However, it is unclear whether the United Nations will do so in the face of strong resistance from Russia.
Russia denies using the Iranian drones, despite ample evidence that they were used to attack Ukrainian cities.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield noted that this month the US released additional information documenting Iran’s delivery of hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs or drones, and equipment that can be used in their manufacture . Ukraine and the UK have also submitted evidence of Iranian drones recovered by the Ukrainian military to the UN, she said.
“This is a matter of life or death for the Ukrainian people,” the US ambassador told the UN Security Council after delivering the statement calling for an investigation, which was also signed by Albania and Ukraine .
The five countries accused Russia of violating the Security Council resolution approving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers, not only by procuring hundreds of Mohajer and Shahed drones, but also by working with the Iran on the production of drones inside Russia.
The 2015 resolution bans all countries from transferring such weapons from Iran without prior Security Council approval, which has not been granted, the statement said.
“Russia has used these UAVs over the past few weeks to attack Kiev, destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, and kill and terrorize Ukrainian civilians,” the US and its allies said. “The United Nations must respond to increasing calls from the international community to investigate these violations.”
Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the UN secretariat, which is headed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is still reviewing the information it has about “the alleged transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles by Iran in a manner inconsistent with.” of the 2015 resolution”.
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He said an expected Guterres report will be discussed this month by experts from the committee monitoring the implementation of the resolution and in July by the 15-member Security Council. Russia is one of five permanent members with veto power.
Thomas-Greenfield told reporters that the resolution mandated the Secretary-General to launch an investigation. Haq did not specify whether Guterres would do so.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia told the Security Council that Ukraine had not presented either Russia or Iran with “no shred of credible evidence” that Iranian drones had been used.
“We hope that the Secretary-General has enough wisdom not to be misled by our former western partners,” Nebenzia said.