Zelensky Responds to Iran’s Threats over Gulf Countries’ Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to threats from the Iranian regime related to the support of Persian Gulf countries. The head of state emphasized in an interview that such statements are not new to Ukraine.
He made these remarks in interviews with i24news and the Jerusalem Post.
“Nothing new. Over the past four years, I have heard many different statements. What is important for us is that the United States and leaders of Middle Eastern countries have requested assistance with drone interceptors. They asked us for expertise in air defense. Air defense is not about offensive capabilities. That is why I said we are ready to provide this expertise and defensive systems,” Zelensky said.
“We are not afraid of such statements. We have been hearing them daily for the past four years — actually, twelve years. For us, this is not news,” the president added.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s help with air defense is purely defensive and not aimed at offensive operations.
Iran warned Ukraine of possible strikes due to its support for Israel with drones. Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary committee on national security, stated that, in his view, this makes Ukrainian territory a “legitimate target” for Tehran. According to him, Ukraine’s actions have drawn the country into the conflict, and Iran could now invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter to defend its interests.
President Zelensky also stated that Iran supplied Shahed-type drones to Russia, and Moscow in turn facilitated the development and adaptation of these technologies.
