World Blog by humble servant. Iran Chronicles 36 Vladimir Putin regarding Iran have shifted from diplomatic condemnation to more direct expressions of solidarity, particularly following the escalation of the Middle East conflict in late February and March 2026.
Vladimir Putin regarding Iran have shifted from diplomatic condemnation to more direct expressions of solidarity, particularly following the escalation of the Middle East conflict in late February and March 2026.
The Nowruz Message (March 21, 2026)
On Saturday, Putin sent a formal greeting for Nowruz (the Persian New Year) to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
"Loyal Friend and Reliable Partner": Putin emphasized that Moscow remains a steadfast ally to Tehran during what he called "severe trials."
Condemnation of Strikes: He reiterated Russia’s strong opposition to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, which began on February 28.
Assurance of Support: While the Kremlin has primarily provided humanitarian aid and diplomatic cover at the UN, the language in this message was notably warm, intended to signal that Russia will not distance itself despite the intense military pressure on the Iranian leadership.
Key Diplomatic & Strategic Context
Condemnation of "Assassinations": Earlier this month, Putin and the Russian Foreign Ministry issued sharp rebukes following the reported deaths of high-ranking Iranian officials, including the former Supreme Leader and security chief Ali Larijani. Putin described these actions as "cynical violations of international law."
Intelligence Sharing Reports: While Putin has been publicly "muted" regarding direct military intervention, reports from mid-March suggest Russia may be sharing military intelligence with Iran to assist its drone and missile responses.
The "Wedge" Proposal: Interestingly, a report surfaced yesterday (March 20) suggesting that Russian envoys offered to halt intelligence sharing with Iran if the U.S. agreed to stop providing intelligence to Ukraine—a proposal the Trump administration reportedly rejected.
UN Advocacy: Russia continues to act as a "diplomatic lawyer" for Tehran, recently proposing UN resolutions that avoid blaming Iran for regional escalations and instead calling for a general cessation of all military activities.
Current Status of the Relationship
Despite the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" signed in 2025, analysts note this remains an alliance of convenience.

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