For years, there’s been a quiet contradiction at the heart of Russia’s relationship with the Middle East — a mix of cooperation and quiet opportunism that now stands exposed.
On the surface, Russia and Iran have presented themselves as firm allies. They’ve stood together against Western influence, worked side by side in military operations, and built a trade pipeline of weapons — most notably the Shahed drones used to pound Ukrainian cities.
But behind that show of unity, Russia has always benefited when instability strikes the oil-rich Middle East — and global markets panic.
That’s exactly what’s happening now. As Israel intensifies its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the Kremlin is watching from the sidelines — making no effort to intervene — while quietly enjoying the spoils of a shaken oil market and rising energy prices.
At first glance, this should worry Moscow. Iran has long been one of its most valuable partners in the region, both ideologically and strategically. The loss of Iranian drone support, especially with Ukrainian forces targeting Russian production hubs, could weaken Russia’s military capabilities in Ukraine over time.
And there's a deeper sting — another longtime regional ally under siege, and Russia doing little but issue rhetorical pushback.
The Kremlin has condemned the Israeli strikes, calling them “illegal” and accusing the West of stoking conflict for its own advantage. But beyond the headlines and hollow statements, Moscow has offered no actual help. No military backing. No defensive support. Nothing.
Why? Because Russia’s alliance with Iran was never unconditional. It was transactional.
And now, with Iran vulnerable and Israel’s offensive intensifying, the Kremlin sees an opportunity — not a crisis.
The rising price of oil is an economic windfall for sanction-strapped Russia. More importantly, the chaos gives Moscow a chance to re-enter the global diplomatic scene, just as it faces deepening isolation over the war in Ukraine.
Despite years of condemnation, Russia still sees itself as a major global player — one that belongs alongside China and the United States at the world’s decision-making table. And in this moment of Middle Eastern volatility, Putin sees his shot.
He’s one of the few leaders who has direct communication lines with Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv — and he’s already hinting at his role as a potential mediator.
In a recent phone call with President Donald Trump, Putin reminded him of their past cooperation on Iran’s nuclear program. It was a subtle but pointed offer: Russia is open to stepping in as a diplomatic bridge once more.
And it seems Trump is open to the idea. Following the call, the White House suggested it might consider Russia as a mediator in the unfolding Iran-Israel conflict.
With Trump’s second term now underway, both Washington and Moscow have been quietly searching for new areas of cooperation beyond the battlefields of Ukraine. The Iran situation, along with topics like the Arctic, space, and energy, might offer a fresh — and unexpected — diplomatic opening.
For Putin, that’s a massive political gain. For Trump, it could be a way to show leadership on the world stage.
But for Ukraine, it’s a devastating shift.
As the world becomes consumed by the escalating Iran-Israel crisis, attention is drifting away from the horrors of Russia’s war in Ukraine, where missile strikes and drone attacks continue to shatter lives.
For now, the spotlight has shifted — from Russia the aggressor, to Russia the power broker.
And that’s exactly the role the Kremlin wants the world to see.
Discription:
"Explore how Russia is leveraging the Iran-Israel conflict to boost its global influence, profit from rising oil prices, and reposition itself as a key Middle East power broker — all while the world’s attention shifts from the war in Ukraine."