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Despite Close Ties With Iran, Russia Stands Aside as Israel Attacks
The New York Times ^ | June 17, 2025, 10:27 a.m. ET | Paul Sonne

Posted on 06/17/2025 11:15:09 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Analysts say the Kremlin is prioritizing its own war against Ukraine, as well as its relations with Gulf nations that don’t want to see a stronger Iran.

Iran aided the Kremlin with badly needed drones in the first year of its Ukraine invasion, helped Moscow build out a critical factory to make drones at home and inked a new strategic partnership treaty this year with President Vladimir V. Putin, heralding closer ties, including in defense.

But five months after that treaty was signed, the government in Iran is facing a grave threat to its rule from attacks by Israel. And Russia, beyond phone calls and condemnatory statements, is nowhere to be found.

Iranian nuclear facilities and energy installations have been damaged, and many of the country’s top military leaders killed, in a broad Israeli onslaught that began Friday and has since expanded, with no sign that Moscow will come to Tehran’s aid.

“Russia, when it comes to Iran, must weigh the possibility of a clash with Israel and the United States, so saving Iran is obviously not worth it,” said Nikita Smagin, an expert on Russia-Iran relations. “For Russia, this is just a fact.”

The situation reflects a dispassionate political calculus by Moscow, which is prioritizing its own war against Ukraine, as well as its need to maintain warm relations with other partners in the Middle East, which have helped Moscow survive Western economic sanctions, analysts say.

Mr. Putin, the analysts add, doesn’t want Iran to have nuclear weapons and also wants to keep improving relations with President Trump, who has called on Iran to make a deal on its nuclear program to end the attacks. Russia is also benefiting from a spike in...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Iran; Israel; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: papertiger; russiansuicide; toiletpapertiger; vladtheimploder
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1 posted on 06/17/2025 11:15:09 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum; lightman

.....“Russia, when it comes to Iran, must weigh the possibility of a clash with Israel and the United States.....

GOOD!


2 posted on 06/17/2025 11:17:06 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Gosh, the NYT sounds protective of Iran.


3 posted on 06/17/2025 11:17:46 AM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The NYT bemoaning the fact that Russia can’t come to the aid of little old Iran, who helped Russia with it’s attempted ‘friendly’ takeover of Ukraine.

Those ingrates, the Russians!


4 posted on 06/17/2025 11:23:00 AM PDT by adorno ( )
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To: Honorary Serb

Gotta wonder if Trump said something to Putin when they talked the other day. 😏


5 posted on 06/17/2025 11:27:28 AM PDT by Allegra (ICE, ICE, Baby!)
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To: Allegra

Wouldn’t necessarily have had to. It’s part of the Great Game - having open solidarity with someone, but covertly getting stabbed in the back by the other. In this case, Iran has been causing problems for Russia (and China) too, and pretty much everyone is just tired of dealing with the mullahs. China’s not helping Iran out now either.

This should not be taken as admission of weakness by China or Russia either - there is simply no upside for them. There is no chance of the US being drawn in to yet another Vietnam or Iraq/Afghanistan quagmire that might distract it and drain treasure and power, so the Russians and Chinese don’t see a reason to encourage it. Both the Russians and Chinese have had Iranian-caused problems in recent years and dealing with the mullahs has been unpleasant for both of them. Even if Iran fends off the Israelis this time, they’re not going to be a counterbalance to any US efforts in the Middle East (since everyone’s getting rich in the Abraham Accords by themselves) and if Iran fails, they won’t have to deal with the fundamentalist Muslim zealot state any more. At this point, Iran is not providing any value to the Russians or Chinese so why should they help?


6 posted on 06/17/2025 11:35:04 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Russia doesn’t want Iran to build nuclear bombs and ICBM’s either. Russia is smart enough to recognize its vulnerability (whereas some in the west aren’t).


7 posted on 06/17/2025 11:36:23 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

There are more Mossad agents in Moscow than anywhere.

The Russians aren’t stupid.


8 posted on 06/17/2025 11:37:17 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Sometimes There Is No Lesser Of Two Evils)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Russia stands aside because they have zero ability to stop Israel or the US. They don’t want to show how weak they are at this point.


9 posted on 06/17/2025 11:40:10 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

True. Excellent point.


10 posted on 06/17/2025 11:42:38 AM PDT by Allegra (ICE, ICE, Baby!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

11 posted on 06/17/2025 11:43:48 AM PDT by fidelis (Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversae! Vicit Leo de tribu Juda, Radix David! Alleluia!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Probably because of this, maybe. Our fine Sinators aren’t done screwing us yet. These two in particular are vermin in crime.

https://x.com/Mylovanov/status/1934988574954336655

Neocon happy days are here. We get two wars to fund. Yippee


12 posted on 06/17/2025 11:50:05 AM PDT by dforest
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

So does China


13 posted on 06/17/2025 11:54:16 AM PDT by Words Matter
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Biblically, maybe soon, Gog/Magog Rosh doesn’t want to enter the fray but the old scythians will get the “hooks in their jaw,”...soon.
God only knows if this is the precursor or Ezekiel’s real thing. Time is ticking


14 posted on 06/17/2025 11:57:29 AM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: MeanWestTexan
There are more Mossad agents in Moscow than anywhere.

Lol. Idk why that hit my funny bone. But it did.

15 posted on 06/17/2025 11:58:54 AM PDT by Kudsman (I am Coal baby! Burning for you. )
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To: Kudsman

If the bunker buster or MOAB is dropped on the nuke site the generals of our adversaries should be invited to watch.


16 posted on 06/17/2025 12:00:47 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Israel just completely destroyed Russian donated air defense systems in Iran. Russia is already losing tremendous assets to Ukraine. Putin is smarter than to take on any more.


17 posted on 06/17/2025 12:14:10 PM PDT by arthurus (| covfefe | -<|\>-)
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To: faithhopecharity

They still wanted to keep selling them the stuff to do it, however, knowing full well that they were just making more problems for Israel and the US to deal with, long before there would be any blowback from assisting Iran to force the Russians to pick up after themselves. Win win for them, stirring the pot.


18 posted on 06/17/2025 12:22:46 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustmilents offered here free of charge)
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To: Kudsman

The Russians were belligerent in Syria and really backed down when this was gently brought to their attention.

Well that and the “mysterious” loss of their precious Ilyushin IL-20 when they were dumb enough to try to help Syria against Israel.

They’d fall apart between that and Ukraine.


19 posted on 06/17/2025 12:23:20 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Sometimes There Is No Lesser Of Two Evils)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

MOP, not MOAB.

Different bomb.


20 posted on 06/17/2025 12:23:53 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Sometimes There Is No Lesser Of Two Evils)
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