TEHRAN, March 1. /TASS/. The current conflict over Ukraine is a product of US policies of engineering crises around the world, Iran’s spiritual leader, Ali Khamenei, said on Tuesday.

"If they (the United States - TASS) are unable to create a crisis, the arms manufacturing companies cannot work at full capacity. They need crises to cater to the interests of this mafia," he said. "Ukraine has fallen victim to this policy."

Khamenei’s statement was broadcast by Iran’s state television.

The Iranian leader said the United States was to blame for putting Ukraine it its current position. He stressed that Iran "is against war and destruction at any point on the globe, of course."

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for assistance from the leaders of the Donbass republics. He said Moscow had no plans for an occupation of Ukrainian territories. The Russian Defense Ministry says its forces are not attacking cities. Their focus is entirely on military infrastructures. The civilian population is not in danger.