Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told a TASS reporter Sept. 11 that the West’s escalation in Ukraine will come back to bite them. “Signals and actions that we are witnessing today are aimed towards escalation. This remark will not force us to change our course, but will create additional risks and dangers for the United States and its allies, clients and satellites, no matter where they are…. If—as they claim—the United States is interested in reinforcing its own security, it needs to immediately stop making such provocative statements, and, naturally, to refrain from delivering any types of weaponry to the special military operation zone.”
As for the accusations that Iran is supplying Russia with missiles, Ryabkov stated: “Military-technical cooperation between our countries is carried out in such a manner that it a) has no elements that are in breach of international law, including relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, and do not violate in any way our country’s national legislation and b) this cooperation has no effect on the regional balance in the Middle East. If the Americans keep pedaling the issue of certain supplies from Iran to Russia, it is their problem. Exhaustive explanations that there is no such cooperation have been repeatedly provided….
“Therefore, we leave this beyond common sense and we will definitely be taking action in line with our own interests and the goals of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation with all countries that show interest in this as we do, including the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the diplomat concluded.
