Russia’s dangerous alliance with Iran continues to escalate after Moscow publicly dismissed U.S. and Israeli intelligence warnings about Tehran’s advancing nuclear weapons program.

“We are convinced that the problem of Iran’s nuclear program should be resolved exclusively by peaceful political and diplomatic means, and we believe that everything necessary is available for this. All that is needed is political will,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

“Secondly, Iran, like all other countries, has the right to develop the peaceful atomic sector, peaceful nuclear energy, and is taking important steps in this direction. And all this is happening in strict accordance with international law.”

Earlier this month Peskov announced that Moscow has agreed to act as a mediator in negotiations over Tehran’s illegal nuclear program.

Russia and Iran have enjoyed warm political ties for quite some time now, including significant arms deals and technology transfers. In late 2024, Iran finalized a deal with Russia to acquire Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 jet trainers. For its part, Iran has provided Russia with several types of drones, including the Shahed-136 suicide drone and the Mohajer-6 reconnaissance and strike drone, which have been used in the current Russia-Ukraine war.

In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Iranian counterpart in Moscow to sign a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty. While carefully avoiding explicit mentions of arms transfers, it establishes a framework for extensive “military-technical cooperation” between the two sanction nations.

Yet despite arming Tehran and vis versa, Moscow appears to recognize certain limits.  Sources tell the AP that President Donald Trump and Putin discussed Iran during a lengthy phone call last Tuesday, during which they “shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.”

Although Russia maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, it often condemns Israeli policies. Putin has in the past backed calls for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations, while earlier in the war, he compared Israeli military tactics to those used during the Nazi’s brutal siege of Leningrad during World War II.