Russia defended Iran’s Saturday missile attack against Israel, claiming it fell within their rights of self-defense following the assassination of Iranian Commander Reza Zahedi.
“According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, this attack was undertaken as part of the right to self-defense stipulated in Article 51 of the UN Charter in response to the attacks on Iranian targets in the region, including the strike on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1 which our country strongly denounced,” a statement by the Russian foreign ministry read.
“Unfortunately, due to the position adopted by its Western members, the Security Council was unable to provide a proper response to the strike on the Iranian consular mission.”
Russia and Iran have enjoyed warm political ties, including significant arms deals and technology transfers. In late 2023, 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.
Although Russia maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, it often condemns Israeli policies. Russian President Vladimir Putin has 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 Saint Petersburg during World War II.
