Friday 23 December 2022

Iranian foreign ministry condemns Zelensky’s ‘rude remarks’ during US visit

Iranian foreign ministry condemns Zelensky’s ‘rude remarks’ during US visit




Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani
©Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP






Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s "rude remarks" with regard to the Islamic Republic, made during his address to the US Congress.







According to the statement, Kanaani "condemned the Ukrainian president’s repeated accusations and rude remarks against the Islamic Republic of Iran at the US Congress."


"He once again stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not supplied any military hardware to any side for use in Ukraine," the statement says.


"Iran has always respected the territorial integrity of all countries including Ukraine," the ministry said. "Mr. Zelensky had better know that Iran’s strategic patience over such unfounded accusations is not endless."


"Kanaani also advised the Ukrainian president to draw a lesson from the fate of some other political leaders who contented themselves with the US support," it said.







On December 21, Zelensky spent several hours in Washington at Biden’s invitation. He met with the US president and the leadership of the US Congress and delivered a speech there. Ahead of Zelensky's visit the US announced a new military aid package totaling $1.85 billion. For the first time, it included a battery of the Patriot air defense system (the truck-mounted launcher, radar and control station).


In August, the Washington Post published a report alleging that Iran has been sending drones to Russia. The report was later followed by similar claims by the US administration. Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly rejected allegations of Russia’s use of Iranian drones in Ukraine Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov deemed such reports as bogus stories and assured that the Russian Army used Russian-made drones.



DPRK shows readiness to ‘respond with nukes to nuclear weapons’ — KCNA



Pyongyang’s November test of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile, which, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry, has a range of up to 15,000 km, displayed DPRK’s readiness "to respond with nuclear weapons to nuclear weapons," the Korean Central News Agency said in a commentary published on its website.


According to KCNA, this year has become a "milestone" thanks to the successes in the reinforcement of DPRK’s defense capability. The mentioned achievements include the military parade in April and the "cementing of its irreversible nuclear power status" following the adoption of the nuclear weapons use policy during the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly session in September.







The list also includes the numerous missile tests in September and October, which confirmed the "combat efficiency of the nuclear forces and their ability to carry out real warfare," including the exercise that imitated the launch of a "missile with a tactical nuclear warhead" from an underwater platform installed in a reservoir. Back then, a number of experts noted that Pyongang was demonstrating the resilience of its launching platforms in case of an enemy strike, displaying its ability to launch missiles from various platforms.


KCNA also noted the successful trial connected to the development of a military satellite, and a test of a high-thrust solid fuel missile engine with thrust vector nozzle, which, as Tokyo believes, may indicate plans for the development of a solid fuel ICBM.


The news agency also pointed out that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un attended the Hwasong-17 launch "with his beloved daughter and spouse," which "touched the heartstrings of the servicemen and the people." The appearance of Kim Jong-Un’s daughter at the trials became a sensation and attracted the attention of the global media.


Japan repeatedly pointed to the rapid development of the DPRK’s nuclear program. In its updated national security strategy, Tokyo noted that Pyongyang now poses an even greater threat to Japan than before because of that. This basic Japanese document provides for a response with counterstrikes on a potential enemy’s territory, but rules out any preemptive strikes.








DPRK: Russians ‘most resilient people’ able to protect country without foreign aid



Russians are "the most resilient people" that can defend their own country without external military aid, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday, commenting on media reports about the alleged shipments of ammunition from the DPRK to Russia.


"I would like to say that the people of Russia are the most resilient, and have the will and ability to ensure the country’s security and territorial integrity without military assistance from anyone," the diplomat affirmed.


He slammed Japanese media reports about the alleged ammunition supplies as a lie, adding that such deals never happened.


"The DPRK’s principal position regarding the ‘weapons deals’ with Russia, which never happened, has not changed," the diplomat said, according to KCNA.


Meanwhile, the diplomat drew the international community’s attention to the weapons shipments from the US, which "brought bloodshed and destruction to Ukraine."







Earlier on Thursday, John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, claimed that North Korea shipped weapons to the Wagner PMC and new shipments are being planned. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the United Nations does not have such information.


The Russian side repeatedly underscored that it does not require foreign supplies for the special military operation in Ukraine because its national military-industrial complex meets all the requirements.


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