It is harder, however, for Russia to dismiss intelligence from diplomatic ally Iran on the attack, which has also raised questions over the effectiveness of Russian security services. Moscow and ...

Russia is not, in fact, a natural partner for Iran. If anything, it’s been a boogeyman to Iranians for hundreds of years, starting with Moscow’s colonial designs on Persia in the 18th and 19th ...

Russia and Iran’s military ties and increasingly tight cooperation in arms use and design suggest that their friendship, though not an entire military alliance, will not flag anytime soon. The ...

Iran and Russia may well draw closer in the coming years, but greater cooperation is not guaranteed. For all it has going for it, the Iranian-Russian alliance contains inherent contradictions, mutual ...

Russia's President Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at the State Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg on December 27, 2022. In inset, Iran's ...

But like Russia, Beijing didn't help Iran either. Though China sometimes takes an official stance toward conflicts in the region, it often tries to appear neutral in order to safeguard its interests.

Russia also has to tread a fine line between placating and assisting ally Iran and keeping the U.S. sweet, as it looks to re-establish ties with Donald Trump's Russia-friendlier administration.

Iran is trying to hinder the Trump campaign and Russia is doing the opposite, U.S. officials indicated in a briefing 99 days before Election Day.

Newsweek has contacted the Iranian and Russian foreign ministries for comment. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev on November 23, 2023, in Minsk, Belarus.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.

Despite years of sanctions, Russia’s economy, unlike Iran’s, remains closely integrated with the West. Mr. Putin has worked to foster close ties with Israel, which Iranian leaders see as an enemy.

Iran really always wanted to develop this relationship. But because Russia had economic dealings with the West, Russia was always keeping Iran at arm’s length. The war in Ukraine changed that.