Tehran may engage in self-defense against Kiev over its “drone support” for Israel, a senior legislator says
Ukraine has become a party to the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran, senior Iranian MP Ebrahim Azizi has said, threatening potential retaliation against Kiev.
The head of the national security commission of the Iranian parliament took to X on Saturday, warning that Kiev’s decision to send anti-aircraft assets to the region to prop up the attackers gives Tehran the right to strike Ukraine in self-defense.
“By providing drone support to the Israeli regime, failed Ukraine has effectively become involved in the war and, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, has turned its entire territory into a legitimate target for Iran,” Azizi wrote.
Over the past two weeks, Vladimir Zelensky has repeatedly signaled his readiness to get involved in the war in the Middle East. He has claimed the US had asked Ukraine for help defend its Gulf allies against Iranian strikes on American assets stationed there, while other regional “partners” have purportedly reached out to Kiev as well.
Zelensky said he had given instructions to “provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the necessary security.”
This week, he also claimed to have reached deals with some nations in the region to sell them Ukrainian-made drone interceptors and send in experienced anti-aircraft teams.
The Ukrainian leader also appeared to poke at the White House over a proposed joint drone manufacturing deal, which reportedly was deliberated last year but fell through.
“I hope that maybe American friends will be closer to this decision now, especially after such challenges as we see in the Middle East,” Zelensky said in an interview with German journalist Gordon Repinski on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump originally appeared to be welcoming to Zelensky’s advances, stating he would “take any assistance from any country” in battling Iran. In an interview with Fox News on Friday, however, he snubbed Zelensky’s offers, flatly denying any assistance from Ukraine in countering Iranian kamikaze drones was needed.
“We don’t need their help in drone defense. We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually,” the US president stated.
