Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes an exhibition at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War against Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, Russia, April 30, 2025.
Alexander Kazakov | Via Reuters
Russia’s response to Iran’s help call is closely monitored on Monday After the United States, the United States bombed the nuclear installations in Tehran this weekend – But Moscow may not be quick to offer its ally a hand.
Attacks against Iranian nuclear sites, that President Donald Trump described as a “obliteration», Left the Islamic Republic rushing for the support of the few friends he has on the world scene. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went to Moscow Monday For “serious consultations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin On how to respond to attacks.
Iran has helped Russia with military drones throughout the war in Ukraine, but analysts now say that there could be very little Moscow cannot do to make the referral.
“Iran massively supported Putin’s war against Ukraine with weapons and technology. During his trip to Moscow, Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi could now ask Moscow to return the same,” Holger Schmeding, chief economist of Berenberg Bank said on Monday.
“However, Putin probably has little to offer beyond certain words. He himself needs his weapons for his continuous assault against Ukraine,” he noted.
Russia must also cross a thin line between appease and help Ally Iran and keep the United States gentle, as it seeks to restore links with the administration of Donald Trump, more skillful.
“If Putin was to annoy Trump on Iran significantly, Trump can change the pug and impose new heavy sanctions on Russia and / or weaken Putin’s position in another way,” said Schmieding.
So far, Moscow’s response to the climbing of the crisis was silentRussia calling on Iran and Israel to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis.
Win, lose it
The Iranian conflict could modestly strengthen the position of Russia in Ukraine, according to analysts, because it distracts Western attention – and potentially resources – far from Ukraine. An increase in oil prices could also mean more export income for the war chests of the oil producer.
At the same time, Russia looks at another ally of the Middle East weakening, eroding its own foot in the region in the process. Russia has already seen a precious alliance collapsed recently through the Bashar Al Assad regime in Syria, which has questioned the future of Moscow’s air and naval bases in the country.
Russia will have to lose more on investments and potentially lucrative infrastructure projects, if Iran is seriously destabilized. The problem for Moscow is to measure now how much it should win or lose by helping or abandoning Iran.
“Moscow himself seems to be undecided what to do with a new war in the Middle East,” said Nikita Smagin, an Iranian foreign and national policies expert in Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said in the analysis.
“On the one hand, Russia has invested massively in various projects in Iran in the past three years, which could now be washed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (L) at their meeting on October 11, 2024 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty images
Clearing the possibility that Russia gives military assistance to Iran, Smagin said that the biggest problem for Moscow is the threat to all Iranian companies in which it has actively invested, including petroleum and gas projects, infrastructure and public transport routes.
“A few days before the start of the Israeli operation, the Iranian ambassador in Moscow said that Russia was the largest foreign investor in the country in 2024. The ambassador said no investment volume, but Russian investments were estimated to $ 2.76 billion the previous year. Moscow planned to invest about $ 8 billion in petroleum and gas projects, “said Smagin.
“Now the future of these projects is in doubt.”
