Senior Iranian official accuses Russia of leaking air defence data to Israel

Mohammad Sadr, a member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, said in a video interview that Moscow had likely shared sensitive Iranian military data with Israel, enabling precise attacks on air defence sites.

"In the recent conflict and the previous one, when Israel in fact struck all our air defence centres, there were doubts as to how Israel was so precisely informed about them. I will give you my analysis - the Russians had given the information to the Israelis," Sadr said, according to Entekhab.

He clarified that this was not a moral comparison between Russia and the West, but a reflection of realpolitik.

"This is Russia. Of course, what I am telling you does not mean that Russia is dishonourable and the Westerners are honourable, but this is how they operate."

Sadr went further, citing Russia's early recognition of Israel at the United Nations and its long-standing ties to the country. He argued that despite Iran’s so-called strategic alliance with Russia, Moscow had repeatedly failed to support Tehran when it mattered.

“They say they are not pleased that Israel attacked Iran," he said, but they offered no assistance. 

The senior official also criticised Russia’s defence dealings with NATO member Türkiye, pointing out that while Moscow sold S-400 missile systems to Ankara, it withheld both the Sukhoi-35 and newer Sukhoi-50 fighter jets from Iran.

"Russia was willing to sell the S-400 to Türkiye but not to us, despite our so-called strategic pact," he said.

Despite the criticism, Sadr did not advocate severing ties with Moscow. "It is our neighbour and we must have very serious relations, but we should not trust them. To think that, in an emergency, they will come to our aid and confront the U.S.—no, they will never do such a thing."

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