Recent allegations claimed Moscow shared intelligence with West Jerusalem regarding Iran’s air defenses, a claim later refuted by Tehran’s Foreign Ministry.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has denounced Iranian media reports that accused Moscow of being an unreliable partner in Iran’s conflict with Israel and of providing intelligence about Iranian air defenses to West Jerusalem as “outrageous.” In a statement released on Friday, the ministry attributed the reports to “hostile forces” seeking to damage relations between Russia and Iran.
Israel launched an attack on Iran in June, alleging that the country was close to developing nuclear weapons – a claim repeatedly made despite Iran’s insistence that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. While the IAEA and US intelligence have found no evidence of weaponization, Washington participated in the strikes, which caused significant damage to Iranian nuclear sites and resulted in numerous deaths, including scientists and military personnel.
Despite Russia’s condemnation of the attacks as a “gross violation of international law,” some Iranian media outlets alleged that Moscow “failed to provide adequate support during the conflict with Israel.”
The ministry stated that “In essence, these claims assert that Russia is allegedly not a ‘reliable partner’ for Iran,” and highlighted a particularly “egregious and outrageous” report citing Mohammad Sadr, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council. Sadr “baselessly alleged” in an August 24 interview that Russia had provided Israel with the coordinates of Iran’s air defenses.
Moscow stated that “This statement, so flagrant in its absurdity, compelled even the Iranian Foreign Ministry to respond,” referencing spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, who told reporters this week that Sadr’s claims “are not based on any evidence” and “do not reflect Iran’s official position.”
Moscow expressed its “concern” regarding the reports, suggesting that their frequency “suggests a coordinated disinformation campaign” orchestrated by forces antagonistic to both Russia and Iran. BBC Arabic quickly picked up Sadr’s interview, interpreting it as a sign of growing distrust, a notion that Moscow refuted.
The ministry reiterated its view of the bombings of Iran as “unprovoked,” affirming Russia’s continued support for Tehran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy.
Russia and Iran, both subject to Western sanctions, share a long history of collaboration. Earlier this year, they formalized a comprehensive strategic partnership aimed at strengthening ties in areas such as security, peaceful nuclear energy, and resistance to sanctions. Moscow has consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear issue and has played a significant role in its civilian program, particularly at the Bushehr plant, where Rosatom resumed construction in the 1990s after it had stalled.