Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has personally appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for support following a wave of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The request comes as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi travels to Moscow for urgent talks with senior Russian officials.
According to Reuters, Araqchi is set to deliver a hand-signed letter from Khamenei to Putin during their meeting in the Russian capital on Monday. The contents of the letter have not been made public, but Tehran has made clear its desire for Moscow’s support in responding to what it calls acts of “unprovoked aggression.”
Strengthening Iran-Russia Ties
Speaking on Iranian state television, Araqchi said the two nations have long shared “common beliefs, concerns, and adversaries,” and emphasized the need to “confront shared challenges and threats.” His comments were echoed in reports by Russian state media, which confirmed that Putin condemned the U.S. strikes as “unjustified” and pledged that Russia is “making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people.”
Putin’s remarks mark a public show of support for Tehran, though Russia has stopped short of offering direct military aid. The two countries have grown closer in recent years, particularly since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which saw Iran supply Shahed drones for Russian use against Ukrainian targets.
A Letter Amid Crisis
Araqchi’s visit comes just days after the U.S. deployed massive “bunker-buster” bombs against three suspected nuclear facilities in Iran. The strikes were reportedly aimed at halting any clandestine effort by Tehran to develop nuclear weapons—an allegation Iran continues to deny, insisting its nuclear program is for civilian energy use only.
While Russia signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Iran earlier this year, the agreement does not include a mutual defense clause. This has reportedly frustrated Iranian officials, who expected a stronger show of solidarity from a key ally following the airstrikes.
Expert Insights: What’s at Stake
Gregg Roman, director of the Middle East Forum, told Newsweek that Moscow has already benefited from its partnership with Tehran—particularly through access to Iranian drone technology. “The Russians got what they wanted out of Iran,” Roman said, implying that Putin may be reluctant to take on additional commitments.
Middle East analyst Avi Melamed noted that Iran now faces a critical decision: escalate militarily or return to diplomacy. “The regime is caught between two difficult paths—further confrontation, which could threaten its survival, or negotiation, which may preserve power but come with major concessions,” Melamed explained.
He added that China’s influence could be decisive. “Beijing may quietly pressure Tehran to step back and return to the negotiating table.”
The Road Ahead
Araqchi is scheduled to hold further meetings with Putin and senior Russian officials throughout Monday, as speculation grows about Tehran’s next move. Despite Moscow’s condemnation of the airstrikes, it remains unclear whether Russia will do more than offer political backing.
The international community will be watching closely—not only for signs of how Iran will respond, but also to see whether Russia’s alliance with Tehran will deepen amid growing global instability.
