Russia's role in Iran war under scrutiny

TEHRAN — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledged Moscow's support for Iran during talks in Tehran on Monday, according to Al Jazeera. He met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Araghchi wrote on X on Tuesday that Iran and Russia had never worked as closely. Lavrov said Russian specialists who had left Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant would gradually return, according to Al Jazeera. The plant was heavily damaged in US strikes.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the talks were held "in a traditionally constructive spirit." Its statement made no mention of military or intelligence cooperation. Lavrov also met Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, the ministry said.

Oilprice.com reported that the Gulf Cooperation Council had urged Moscow to use its influence on Tehran. Lavrov met GCC officials in Bahrain before travelling to Iran.

US media outlets, citing intelligence reports, have said Russia and China supplied Iran with satellite imagery and weapons components. US President Donald Trump has dismissed those reports. On October 18, Trump said Russia was doing "very little, if anything" to help Iran.

Analysts disagree on the extent of Russian help. Hamidreza Azizi, a senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, told RFE/RL that Russia had withheld heavy weaponry but had provided military intelligence. Al Jazeera reported that Russia's oil tax revenue had roughly doubled to about $9bn by April, according to Reuters calculations.

Background

The United States and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28. Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the war began. Brent crude rose from around $72 a barrel to as high as $120 in March and April. On Tuesday it traded above $109.

Russia and Iran signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty in January 2025. It has no mutual defence clause. Russia has not entered the war militarily. Russia's Foreign Ministry has condemned what it called the "unlawful aggression" of the US and Israel.