Amid the biggest U.S. military action against Iran since the 1979 revolution, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sent his foreign minister to Moscow in a bid to secure stronger support from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in the Russian capital carrying a personal letter from Khamenei to Putin, seeking increased Russian backing following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
The visit comes as Washington and Tel Aviv openly speculate about targeting Iran’s top leadership and pushing for regime change—a prospect that Moscow reportedly fears could plunge the region into deeper chaos.
While Putin has condemned Israeli airstrikes, he has so far remained silent on the U.S. attacks.
Last week, he urged restraint and offered Russia’s mediation over Iran’s nuclear programme but stopped short of taking a firm stance against Washington.
A senior Iranian official said that Tehran is dissatisfied with Russia’s limited support and is urging Moscow to take a more active role in countering U.S. and Israeli pressure.
Putin, meanwhile, is navigating a delicate balance. Engaged in a protracted war in Ukraine, and with U.S. President Donald Trump signaling a desire to repair ties with Moscow, the Kremlin appears reluctant to risk confrontation with the U.S. over Iran.
Iran’s diplomatic outreach underscores the growing urgency in Tehran as regional tensions spiral. With fears of a broader conflict mounting, all eyes are now on how Russia responds to Khamenei’s call for solidarity.
