As Israel-Iran conflict rages, Russia eyes Middle East power broker role
Moscow balances ties with Israel and Iran as Putin offers mediation to de-escalate tensions, potentially diverting attention from the Ukraine war
Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.
Israel’s military strikes this weekend on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, killing top generals and scientists, and Tehran’s response with drones and missiles, put Moscow in an awkward position, requiring fine diplomatic skills to preserve ties with both parties. But it also could open opportunities for Russia to possibly become a power broker to help end the confrontation.
Some observers in Moscow also argue that the focus on the confrontation between Israel and Iran could distract global attention from the war in Ukraine and play into Russia’s hands by potentially weakening Western support for Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering to help de-escalate the conflict.
In his call with Pezeshkian, Putin condemned the Israeli strikes and offered his condolences. He noted that Russia has put forward specific initiatives aimed at resolving the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme.
Russia’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement condemning the Israeli strikes as “categorically unacceptable” and warning that “all the consequences of this provocation will fall on the Israeli leadership”. It urged both parties “to exercise restraint in order to prevent further escalation of tensions and keep the region from sliding into a full-scale war”.