Iran Denies Connection to Military Shipment Discovered at Kyiv Airport

On Wednesday, February 25, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ukraine dismissed any connection between Tehran and the discovery and seizure of a military shipment at Kyiv's Zhulyany Airport, calling the news baseless. According to ISNA news agency, the Iranian embassy stated in a press release: "The publication of such false news is assessed as damaging to the atmosphere governing the expanding cooperation and relations between the two countries." The statement added: "There is no document or evidence indicating the ownership, attribution, or shipment of the mentioned cargo to the Islamic Republic of Iran." The embassy also noted: "The basis and evidence on which this cargo was linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran is suspicious and questionable." This statement was issued after the Ukrainian border guard's website reported on January 21 that during the inspection of a plane bound for Iran, parts likely belonging to guided anti-tank missile systems of the 'Fagot' type were discovered. These parts were reportedly found on January 20. Images published by the Ukrainian border guard's website show parts in olive green color. Additionally, in a video released by the site, border guard officers are seen opening boxes containing the parts, which bear the seal of the airline 'Um Air.' The U.S. Treasury Department had identified Um Air in 2013 as having connections with 'Mahan Air.' The name of Mahan Air is mentioned in a proposal by three Republican senators, which was reported on Tuesday, aimed at increasing non-nuclear sanctions against Iran. According to the website of Marco Rubio, a Republican senator and one of the proposal's architects, Mahan Air is introduced as a company that assists the Revolutionary Guard in spreading terrorism and warmongering. The Russian news agency Interfax reported that Ukrainian border guards discovered parts of guided anti-tank missile systems of the 'Fagot' type from a plane bound for Iran. This news was provided to Interfax by a spokesperson for the Ukrainian border guard. According to this report, on January 21, during inspections of air cargo bound for Iran at Zhulyany International Airport, 17 boxes containing undocumented cargo were found, which were not mentioned in the flight manifest. Interfax reported that three boxes of the discovered cargo contained parts used in missiles, while the rest were filled with aircraft parts. The aircraft crew stated that they believed the boxes contained aircraft repair parts. According to this report, Ukrainian security forces seized the found cargo due to violations of international goods transfer laws and handed it over to the Ukrainian government. The 'Fagot' missile is a small, portable missile that can also be launched from an armored vehicle. The Young Journalists Club recently reported that each Fagot missile is priced at $30,000, noting that traces of advanced 'Fagot' anti-tank missiles have been clearly identified in the battles over the past two years in Syria, particularly in the northern part of the country. In late Esfand 1390 (March 2012), Turkish security officials forced an Iranian cargo plane bound for Syria to land at Diyarbakir Airport in eastern Turkey, subsequently announcing that they had discovered an illegal arms shipment destined for Syria during the inspection of the aircraft.