Russia has ripped into the United States and Israel for bombing Iran while negotiations were still underway, calling it a “pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression.”
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry dropped the statement Saturday just hours after American and Israeli jets pounded Iranian nuclear sites and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attack came mid-talks, with the latest round of US-Iran negotiations in Geneva having wrapped up only two days earlier.
“The peacekeeper is at it again. The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that,” said Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. He posted the message in English on social media, mocking President Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov phoned his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to condemn the strikes and offer Moscow’s help brokering peace. Lavrov said the attacks violate international law and ignore the “grave consequences for regional and global stability.”
The Kremlin accused Washington and Tel Aviv of “hiding behind” nuclear concerns while actually pursuing regime change. It warned the Middle East is being plunged into “an abyss of uncontrolled escalation” that could trigger a humanitarian and radiological catastrophe.
Russia has skin in the game. Moscow and Tehran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership in January 2025 and held joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman just last week. Putin called Khamenei’s killing a “cynical violation of all norms of human morality” in a letter to Iran’s president.
The timing is awkward for the Kremlin. Putin has recently praised Trump’s efforts to end the Ukraine war and the two leaders have discussed reviving economic ties. Now Moscow must balance its friendship with Tehran against its cautious warming with Washington.
Iran wants Russia’s help at the UN Security Council. Araghchi told Lavrov Tehran will push for an emergency meeting to condemn the strikes. Russia has already backed that move.
For now, Moscow is playing both sides, condemning the attacks while offering to mediate. But the message is clear, Russia is not happy about being caught off guard by a war that torpedoed negotiations it thought were still alive.
Follow on Google News
