MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his warm wishes to Iranian leaders for Nowruz, emphasizing that Moscow continues to be a steadfast friend and partner to Tehran, as reported by the Kremlin on Saturday.
However, the depth of Moscow’s support for Iran is a matter of debate. Some Iranian sources have claimed they haven’t received much tangible assistance from Russia during this critical period, which they argue is the most challenging since the 1979 revolution that ousted the US-supported Shah.
Putin sent his congratulations to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian for the Iranian New Year. He expressed hope that the Iranian people would navigate their hardships with resilience, reiterating that Moscow stands by Tehran in these trying times.
In the wake of recent US and Israeli actions against Iran, Russia has voiced concerns, stating that such attacks could plunge the entire Middle East into chaos and exacerbate a global energy crisis. Putin condemned the killing of an Iranian leader as a “cynical” act.
In a twist of diplomatic negotiation, it was reported that Moscow proposed a deal to Washington: Russia would cease intelligence sharing with Iran if the US stopped providing intelligence to Ukraine regarding Russia. However, the United States declined this offer, and the Kremlin has since dismissed the report as untrue.
Additionally, Russia lost a regional ally when the US helped to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Nonetheless, Moscow has benefited from rising oil prices resulting from the ongoing conflicts involving Iran, a key strategic ally.
It’s important to note that while there is a stated partnership between Russia and Iran, it does not include a mutual defense agreement. Furthermore, Russia has consistently stated its opposition to Iran developing nuclear weapons, fearing it could ignite a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
