US, allies demand UN probe into Russia’s use of Iranian drones in Ukraine

The United States, Britain and France demanded Friday that the United Nations urgently investigate Russia’s reported use of hundreds of Iranian-provided drones in the war in Ukraine, which would violate UN sanctions.
But it’s unclear whether the UN will do so in the face of strong opposition from Russia. Russia denies using the Iranian drones, despite widespread evidence that they have been used to attack Ukrainian cities. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield noted that the country has released further information earlier this month, documenting Iran’s provision of hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs or drones, as well as equipment that can be used in their production. Ukraine and the UK also submitted evidence to the United Nations of Iranian-origin drones recovered by the Ukrainian military, she said. “This is a matter of life or death for the Ukrainian people,” the ambassador told the UN Security Council after delivering the statement calling for an investigation, which also was signed by Albania and Ukraine. The five countries accused Russia of violating a Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers, not only by procuring hundreds of Mohajer and Shahed drones by also by working with Iran to produce drones inside Russia.
The UNSC’s 2015 resolution prohibits all countries from transferring such weapons from Iran without advance Security Council approval, which was not given to Russia, the statement said. “Russia has been using these UAVs in recent weeks to strike Kyiv, destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, and kill and terrorise Ukrainian civilians,” the US and its allies said. “The United Nations must respond to growing calls from the international community to investigate these violations.” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the Secretariat, headed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is still analysing information it received regarding “the alleged transfer of un-crewed aerial vehicles by Iran in a manner inconsistent” against the 2015 resolution. He said that a report expected soon from Guterres will be discussed this month by experts on the committee monitoring implementation of the resolution, and by the 15-member Security Council in July. Russia is one of five permanent members with veto power.