Tehran says opposed to continuation of Ukraine war

The top diplomat made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis early Thursday.

"Based on this (Iran's opposition to the continuation of the war), we are ready to offer whatever instance of assistance to help expedite the resolution of the crisis," Amir-Abdollahian said.

Cassis, for his part, welcomed the Islamic Republic's position of preparedness for contribution to the realization of peace in Ukraine.

Russia started a military campaign in neighboring Ukraine last February to defend the pro-Russian population in eastern Ukrainian against persecution by Kiev.

Ever since the beginning of the war, Western countries, led by the United States, have been pumping Ukraine full of tens of billions of dollars worth of advanced weapons, a step that Moscow says would only prolong the hostilities.

Throughout the course of the conflict, Iran has invariably communicated its opposition to either its continuation or exacerbation, expressing willingness to contribute to whatever intermediary efforts that could help spell an end to it.

The Islamic Republic has also consistently rejected allegations championed by the West, especially the US, of, what the allies have called, Tehran's "provision of drones" to Russia throughout the course of the warfare.

Most recently, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei weighed in on the allegations during a televised New Year address on Tuesday.

The Leader categorically dismissed the repetitive claims that have been made by Western countries about alleged Iranian drone shipments to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. Ayatollah Khamenei rather held the US responsible for fuelling the flames of war and profiting from the misery and blood of Ukrainians.

Still touching on the issue of the conflict during a separate phone call with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Amir-Abdollahian again expressed hope for the acceleration of the process of cessation of the warfare.

The Iranian foreign minister reiterated the Leader's remarks concerning the Western accusations targeting Iran, saying, in line with Ayatollah Khamenei's assertions, the Islamic Republic emphatically rejects any involvement in the war.

Iran has repeatedly asked Ukrainian authorities to provide whatever instance of strong evidence they might have that could prove their claims about the participation of Iranian drones in the war, Amir-Abdollahian concluded.