Iran Sends Envoy to Moscow Seeking Putin’s Support After Massive U.S. Strikes

Watan-Iran’s Supreme Leader sent his Foreign Minister to Moscow on Monday to request additional support from President Vladimir Putin following the largest U.S. military action against Iran since the 1979 revolution.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel have hinted at the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a possible regime change in Iran—moves that Russia fears could plunge the Middle East into further chaos.

While Putin condemned the Israeli strikes, he has not yet commented on the U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Last week, however, he called for restraint and offered Russia’s services as a mediator in nuclear negotiations.

A senior source told Reuters that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is delivering a personal message from Khamenei to Putin, requesting increased support.

Iranian sources also told Reuters that Tehran is dissatisfied with the current level of Russian backing and wants Putin to take more decisive steps in supporting Iran against the U.S. and Israel. The specific type of assistance Tehran is seeking was not disclosed.

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin would meet with Araghchi but did not detail the agenda.

Russia’s state news agency TASS quoted Araghchi saying that Iran and Russia are coordinating positions on the current Middle East escalation.

Putin has repeatedly offered to mediate between the U.S. and Iran, proposing solutions that would guarantee Iran continued access to civilian nuclear energy.

He stated that Israel provided guarantees to Moscow that Russian specialists working on two new reactors at the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran would not be harmed during air raids.

Russia, a close ally of Iran, plays a key role in nuclear negotiations as a UN Security Council permanent member and a signatory of the original nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from in 2018 during his first term.

However, Putin—engaged in a prolonged war in Ukraine—has shown little desire to confront the U.S. over Iran, especially as Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow.