Iran war: Why is Russia not coming to Tehran’s aid?

Iran War: Why Is Russia Not Coming to Tehran’s Aid?

Amid escalating US-Israeli strikes, the Iranian regime—long isolated internationally—has relied heavily on Russia’s backing. However, Moscow’s recent response has left Tehran feeling betrayed. Just hours after Israeli and US bombs began targeting Tehran on Saturday, Russia’s UN representative, Vassily Nebenzia, issued a sharp condemnation, labeling the attacks as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state.”

Russia and Iran have shared strategic interests, with Moscow playing a key role in Iran’s military efforts. Since 2023, Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones, which have significantly altered the dynamics of the Ukraine conflict. Julian Waller, a research analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses in the US, noted that these drones were instrumental to Russia’s war effort. “Iran’s contribution was vital, even as production has since shifted to Russia, which has refined the design,” Waller explained to DW.

Despite this, Russia has not stepped in to defend Iran. Nikita Smagin, an Azerbaijan-based expert on Russia and the Middle East, pointed out that the two nations have collaborated on critical economic ventures. “The North-South transport corridor is one such initiative,” he said. “It became essential after Russia lost access to its traditional transit routes following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.” This 7,200-kilometer multi-mode network, signed in 2000 by Russia, India, and Iran, also passes through Azerbaijan. According to the Gulf Research Center, 75% of the project has been completed.

“The partnership between Russia and Iran, however, is not about ideology—Russian politicians don’t particularly like Iran,” Smagin added. “They see Tehran as a dependable strategic ally, especially since both nations face international sanctions. Unlike Turkey or Egypt, which might halt trade with Russia if pressured by the West, Iran continues to engage with Moscow.”

Gregoire Roos, director of Europe and Russia studies at Chatham House in London, suggested that Iran has even served as a mentor to Russia. “Iran has decades of experience evading sanctions and shared insights on how to navigate them,” he told DW. Yet, experts argue that Russia is unlikely to intervene in the current conflict. “The two countries are not defensive allies,” Waller emphasized.

Tehran had anticipated more than just verbal support from Moscow. Mojtaba Hashemi, an international relations expert, stated that the regime expected “expanded military-technical cooperation, intelligence exchanges, and a strong deterrent message to its adversaries.” However, he criticized Iran’s miscalculations. “Russia and China have greater challenges to address,” Hashemi said. “Their assistance has mainly taken the form of weapons and tools of suppression.”

“Skepticism about Moscow has long existed in Tehran,” said Mohammad Ghaedi, a lecturer at George Washington University. “Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once remarked, ‘Russia has always sold out the Iranian nation.’ President Masoud Pezeshkian, after the 12-day war in June 2025, echoed this sentiment, noting that ‘countries we considered allies did not help us during the conflict.'”

Chatham House’s Roos proposed that a protracted Iran war could benefit Russia. “It would reduce media attention on Zelenskyy, shifting focus to Iran and the threat of escalation,” he argued. “Additionally, Washington might struggle to sustain its military presence if the conflict drags on.”