Ukraine to 'Significantly Reduce' Iran Diplomatic Presence

A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo
A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo
TT

Ukraine to 'Significantly Reduce' Iran Diplomatic Presence

A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo
A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo

Kyiv said on Friday it has decided to reduce Iran's diplomatic presence in Ukraine over sending weapons to its foe Russia.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said "the temporary charge d'affaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ukraine was summoned" over the issue.

A ministry statement said the envoy was told the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia "directly contradicts the position of neutrality, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and was "an unfriendly act that deals a serious blow to Ukraine-Iran relations".

"In response to such an unfriendly act, the Ukrainian side decided to deprive the ambassador of Iran in Ukraine of accreditation, as well as to significantly reduce the number of diplomatic personnel of the Iranian embassy in Kyiv", the ministry said.

Earlier on Friday Kyiv said one civilian was killed during a Russian attack with drones on the southern port city of Odessa and one Iranian-designed unmanned vehicle was shot down by Ukrainian forces.

According to AFP, President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesman said "the use of Iranian-made weapons by Russian troops... are steps taken by Iran against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state."

Later on Friday Ukraine's armed forces said four Iranian-made drones had been shot down in the south of the country during the day.



Fire at Liquefied Gas Site in Iran Reportedly Under Control

Iranians walk past a billboard with the pictures of late IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani (C), late Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh (L) and Yahya Sinwar (R), and late Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah (2-R), and the head of Hezbollah's executive council Hashem Safieddine (2-L), and a sentence reading in Persian 'God wrote our duty, to help the oppressed' at the Enghelab square in Tehran, Iran, 21 January 2025. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Iranians walk past a billboard with the pictures of late IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani (C), late Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh (L) and Yahya Sinwar (R), and late Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah (2-R), and the head of Hezbollah's executive council Hashem Safieddine (2-L), and a sentence reading in Persian 'God wrote our duty, to help the oppressed' at the Enghelab square in Tehran, Iran, 21 January 2025. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
TT

Fire at Liquefied Gas Site in Iran Reportedly Under Control

Iranians walk past a billboard with the pictures of late IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani (C), late Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh (L) and Yahya Sinwar (R), and late Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah (2-R), and the head of Hezbollah's executive council Hashem Safieddine (2-L), and a sentence reading in Persian 'God wrote our duty, to help the oppressed' at the Enghelab square in Tehran, Iran, 21 January 2025. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Iranians walk past a billboard with the pictures of late IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani (C), late Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh (L) and Yahya Sinwar (R), and late Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah (2-R), and the head of Hezbollah's executive council Hashem Safieddine (2-L), and a sentence reading in Persian 'God wrote our duty, to help the oppressed' at the Enghelab square in Tehran, Iran, 21 January 2025. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Firefighters have brought under control a fire at a liquefied gas site in Rey City south of Tehran, the Ministry of Oil's news outlet SHANA reported on Wednesday, adding there were no casualties.

"An incident took place in one of the depots of Rey's liquefied gas storage facility, not at the oil storage facility," Keramat Veiskarami, CEO of Iran's National Petroleum Products Distribution Company, told SHANA, referring to earlier news reports.

According to Reuters, Veiskarami said information regarding the cause of the incident would be released later.

Rey is located 11 kilometers south of Tehran.