Russian Foreign Ministry condemns US-Israel strikes on Iran
Russia has strongly condemned the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, labeling them as a preplanned act of aggression against a sovereign nation. The Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to the military campaign and a return to diplomacy, accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of using concerns about Iran’s nuclear program as a pretext for pursuing regime change.
The statement posted on Telegram warned that the attacks could lead to a humanitarian, economic, and possibly radiological catastrophe in the region, further escalating tensions in the Middle East. Russia, a key trade partner and supplier of weapons and technologies to Iran, expressed its readiness to help broker peace while criticizing the U.S. and Israel for their actions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to mediate the conflict in Ukraine have led to a recent warming of ties between Moscow and Washington. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation with his Iranian counterpart and reiterated Russia’s condemnation of the strikes, offering to facilitate a peaceful resolution.
The Kremlin, via a videoconference with Russia’s Security Council, discussed the situation in Iran but did not disclose any details. Russia emphasized the need to avoid bombing nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and placed full responsibility for the escalation on the United States and Israel.
Russia has maintained a delicate balance in the Middle East, fostering warm relations with Israel while cultivating strong economic and military ties with Iran. The two countries recently conducted joint military drills in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean to enhance operational coordination and exchange military experiences.
In January last year, Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a broad cooperation pact, deepening their partnership in response to Western sanctions. Allegations of a $1.7 billion deal for Shahed drones between Russia and Iran and the transfer of short-range ballistic missiles have been made by the West, with Ukraine voicing support for the strikes on Iran.
Russia and Iran collaborated to support Bashar Assad’s government during Syria’s civil war, although they were unable to prevent his downfall after opposition forces launched a successful offensive. Some observers in Moscow believe that the focus on the Israel-Iran confrontation could divert attention from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, potentially weakening Western support for Kyiv.
