Russia Shifts From Ally to Observer as US-Israel Bomb Iran and Kill Khamenei

Russia labeled the strikes as an unprovoked act of aggression but refrained from direct military intervention.

“Russia and China, Tehran’s two most powerful diplomatic partners, have labelled the US-Israeli war on Iran that has killed more than 1,000 people a clear violation of international law”

Al Jazeera

The Moscow Times explained that Russia waited to see if Tehran would survive after suppressing protests.

Al Jazeera

Russia Matters framed the conflict as serving Moscow's purposes by dividing American attention.

DW highlighted the Russia-Iran partnership is pragmatic, not ideological.

Russia provided Iran with targeting information to attack American forces.

Russia has been supplying missiles and ammunition to Tehran and sharing intelligence.

CNBC

Russia and China condemned the US-Israeli war as a clear violation of international law.

Neither Russia nor China indicated a willingness to intervene militarily.

Russia's pragmatic withdrawal has significant geopolitical consequences.

“Just hours after Israeli and US bombs started hitting Tehran on Saturday, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, called it an "unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state”

DW

Any government replacing the Islamic Republic would likely not maintain close ties with Moscow.

Oil prices and global markets reacted amid accelerating instability.

Oman expressed dismay after weeks of indirect talks.

Russia-Iran cooperation on economic projects has been vital for Moscow.

Reliance on Iranian drones has inherent limits as Russia tries to indigenize production.

The Hill

The Iran war is a high-risk gamble with unclear objectives.