Cartoon by Graeme MacKay

West urges probe of Russia's use of Iranian drones

Deutsche Welle: The United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have asked the United Nations to investigate allegations that Russia used Iranian-made drones to attack Ukraine.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the three European countries asked the UN to send a team to investigate the origin of the drones.

"These UAVs are being used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine in attacks against civilian infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, leading to the death of innocent civilians," they wrote.

The United States sent a similar letter, saying Iranian drones were transferred to Russia in late August.

The accusations were criticized by Tehran as "false and baseless," whose Foreign Ministry "strongly rejected and condemned" calls for a UN probe.

Over the last two weeks, Russia has struck Ukraine with a wave of drone attacks including dive-bombing the capital, Kyiv.

The US and three European powers said if Iranian drones were used in the attacks it violated the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which restricts certain arms transfers to or from Iran.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the drones are Russian and repeated a warning that an investigation would seriously affect relations between Russia and the UN.

"The UN must investigate any violation of UN Security Council resolutions and we must not allow Russia or others to impede or threaten the UN from carrying out its mandated responsibilities," US Deputy Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis told a Security Council meeting.

Separately the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said diplomacy was still the best way to address Iran's nuclear program but he saw no imminent revival of the 2015 nuclear deal because of Tehran's injection of "extraneous issues."

He specifically said Iranian drones were used in Ukraine.

On Thursday, the US said Iranian troops were in Crimea and had helped fly the drones.

Despite Iran denying having supplied the drones, many have been shot down and recovered making their origins clear.