Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoly Hrytsenko on Friday denied foreign media reports that Kiev was selling military radar systems to Iran.

Hrytsenko said as Ukraine's defense minister, he had received no information of Kiev selling such systems to Iran, nor had he issued such an order, according to Ukraine Interfax news agency.

The defense minister said previous accusations of Kiev breaching international arms sales rules had never been verified and the rumor this time would be dispelled as well.

Britain-based Jane's Defense Weekly had cited unidentified sources as reporting that Ukraine sold Kolchuga radar systems to Iran. It said the deliveries were either recent or imminent, but didn't mention the quantity of the systems, valued at 25 million U.S. dollars per set.

Hrytsenko dismissed the report, saying that in the arms trade, Ukraine had rivals as well as partners, and such accusations would frequently surface while trade deals were being negotiated.

Source: Xinhua