The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Political analysts note that the Russian leadership is framing the invasion of Ukraine as a necessary preemptive measure. They believe that by highlighting the strikes on Tehran, Moscow aims to reinforce its narrative that it acted defensively to avoid a similar fate at the hands of Western powers.
High-ranking figures, such as Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, have used the situation to discredit American diplomacy. Medvedev argued that the recent events demonstrate the pointlessness of negotiating with Washington, hoping this message will resonate with Russia's international allies.
The Kremlin said on Monday (2 March) that Russia was in constant contact with the Iranian leadership about what it called the "outright aggression" against Tehran.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was also in touch with the leadership of other countries that had been affected by the conflict, specifically those in the Gulf region.
"We are in constant contact with Iran’s leadership and are discussing the situation around the country. At the same time, we continue our dialogue with the leaders of the states affected by the conflict, including the countries of the Persian Gulf," said Peskov.
"As for the talks mediated by Oman between the United States and Iran, we can only express deep disappointment that, despite reports of significant progress in those negotiations, the situation nevertheless deteriorated to outright aggression," he added.
Despite signing a strategic partnership agreement with Iran in 2025, Moscow has signalled no intent to intervene militarily in the current Middle East conflict. Russian officials have clarified that their bilateral agreement does not include a mutual defence clause.
The Kremlin's decision to maintain a strategic distance comes as it continues to rely on Iranian-supplied weaponry, such as Shahed drones and ballistic missiles, for its operations in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently voiced support for the strikes on Iran, labelling the country an accomplice for providing Moscow with military technology.
Observers suggest that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could ultimately serve Russian interests. The Kremlin anticipates that the crisis will divert U.S. attention and military resources away from Eastern Europe.
Analysists believe that a sustained shift in American focus could ease international pressure on Russian forces and potentially weaken Western financial and military support for Kyiv. This dynamic may allow Moscow to intensify its operations on the Ukrainian front while diplomatic efforts remain concentrated on stabilising the Middle East.
However, the Kremlin said that it was in Russia's own interests to continue peace talks with Ukraine and that Moscow's preference was still to reach a diplomatic settlement to end the fighting.
Peace talks have appeared deadlocked in recent weeks over Russia's insistence that Ukraine hand over the remaining part of its eastern Donbas region which Moscow does not control, an idea Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to expect further strikes on Saturday (7 March). In a post on social media, he said Iran would be '...
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the Uni...
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, inc...
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport came under attack in heavy airstrikes on early Saturday morning (7 March), Iranian ne...
Baku has completed its evacuation of staff from the Azerbaijan Consulate General in Tabriz, while most employees from...
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to expect further strikes on Saturday (7 March). In a post on social media, he said Iran would be 'hit very hard'. His comments came a week into the conflict with Iran, which has spread across the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport came under attack in heavy airstrikes on early Saturday morning (7 March), Iranian news agencies reported.
Officials in Azerbaijan have said they have stopped terror attacks in Azerbaijan including on an Israeli Embassy, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and a Synagogue. Tensions between regional and global powers escalate. Military activity, security alerts and travel disruptions continue.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to expect further strikes on Saturday (7 March). In a post on social media, he said Iran would be 'hit very hard'. His comments came a week into the conflict with Iran, which has spread across the Middle East.
Lebanon's Hezbollah warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 5 km (3.11 miles) of the border between the countries in a message posted on its Telegram channel in Hebrew early on Friday.
The Israeli military says it has destroyed an underground bunker beneath Iran’s leadership complex in Tehran that it claims was built for former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
The Azerbaijani State Security Service has said it has stopped Iran committing terror attacks against four targets in the country: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan, a leader of the Mountain Jews religious community and the "Ashkenazi" synagogue.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
A 35-year-old former rapper is on track to become Nepal’s next prime minister. Early counting in the elections on Friday (7 March) showed Balendra Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was leading in around 100 seats, far ahead of rivals.
Newly released FBI records summarising interviews with an unidentified woman contain allegations that U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to force her to perform a sexual act when she was a teenager, according to documents published by the U.S. Justice Department.
Australia’s move to ban social media access for children under 16 has intensified a global debate, as governments around the world weigh tougher rules amid growing concerns over mental health, safety and screen addiction.
Indonesia will restrict access to social media platforms for children under 16, its communications and digital ministry said on Friday (6 March), becoming the latest country to introduce online guardrails aimed at reducing the risks of addiction and cyberbullying.
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