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Blinken says he discussed Russia-Iran ties, support to Ukraine with Israeli officials

He said he addressed the issue of "Tehran’s deepening ties with Moscow and the sophisticated weaponry that they’re exchanging"

TEL AVIV, February 1. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had discussed Russian-Iranian military cooperation and support to Ukraine during his visit to Israel.

The US top diplomat told reporters during his official visit to Jerusalem that the Israeli and US delegations discussed "ways to deepen our cooperation to confront and counter" Iran’s alleged "destabilizing actions." He said he also addressed the issue of "Tehran’s deepening ties with Moscow and the sophisticated weaponry that they’re exchanging" and "the importance of providing support for all of Ukraine’s needs - humanitarian, economic, and security."

"Even as we’re making real strides toward expanding peace with Israel’s neighbors, we continue to work together to tackle shared threats," the US top diplomat added.

Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly denied reports on supplies of Iranian drones to Russia for their use in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called such reports "bogus stories" and emphasized that the Russian army uses drones of domestic production. In early November 2022, the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the Islamic Republic supplied drones to Russia, but in small quantities and a few months before the start of the military operation in Ukraine.