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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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Moscow warned of a "catastrophe" if Israel continues to strike nuclear sites in Iran, highlighting Russia's concern over the fate of its ally with which it signed a security pact only half a year ago.
The treaty pledged a two-decade cooperation between the countries that had strengthened over the course of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, the deal did not commit Moscow to helping Iran militarily as Putin faces the possibility of losing another ally in the Middle East months after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.
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Why It Matters
Moscow was caught off guard by Israel's missile offensive on June 13 that it says is aimed at stopping Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, although Tehran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes. The attack on Iran sees Russia scrambling to retain influence in the Middle East months after the fall of Assad.
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What To Know
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on Thursday that Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, including at Bushehr, Natanz, Isfahan and Arak, put the world on the "brink of a catastrophe."
Of concern was the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which employs Russian specialists, Zakharova said, echoing sentiments from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov that direct U.S. involvement could destabilize the Middle East.
The urgency of the warnings comes as Russia faces losing another regional ally if the regime in Iran falls, only months after the demise of the Assad regime in Syria.
Since Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Tehran has supplied Russia with Shahed-136 kamikaze drones and helped Moscow build a factory to make the devices domestically, which Ukrainian military intelligence said was in Russia's Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
Nazenin Ansari, managing editor of Kayhan London, a Persian-language digital newspaper based in London, said Tehran may have been providing drones to Russia and invested in missile and nuclear technology, but it has not updated its air force, "certainly Russia hasn't been updating it for them."
"From a conventional military perspective, you can see why the Israelis were able to take over the airspace of Tehran and eliminate so many of their top leaders," she told Newsweek.
On January 17, Putin signed theRussian-Iranian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, signaling a unified front against the West as both countries face isolation and sanctions.
However, the 20-year deal is not a military alliance and does not commit Moscow to defend Iran. Months after Moscow touted closer security ties with Tehran with the deal, Russia remains on the sidelines as its ally faces an Israeli bombardment.
"Maybe Russia left out the mutual defense clause because they thought that what happened to Syria could happen to Iran," Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, told Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in January: The Iran-Russia treaty showed "the desire of Moscow and Tehran for closer cooperation on security and defense."
Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum: "Putin understands that this is Trump's Middle East. Israel is the United States' top Middle East ally and Putin is trying to walk a fine line with the United States over Ukraine."
What Happens Next
Putin has offered to be a mediator in the escalating conflict, as he can boast of good ties with Iran and Israel. However, this appears to have been rebuffed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is considering direct U.S. involvement.
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