Moscow proposes to “reconcile” Tehran and Damascus — against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the deepening of the Russia-Iran connection.

Russia has declared its readiness to facilitate the normalization of relations between Iran and Syria. This was reported by the Russian ambassador to Tehran, Alexey Dedov, in an interview with the Iranian agency ISNA.

The statement came against the backdrop of Moscow’s diplomatic track in the Middle East increasingly intertwining with the war in Ukraine, sanction pressure, and military cooperation between Russia and Iran — a state perceived in the region as a threat factor, including for Israel.

European accusations against Iran: Moscow’s position

Dedov claims that European countries use, in his words, “unfounded accusations” related to Iran’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine as a pretext for pressure on Tehran. In this logic, Europe allegedly seeks to limit Iranian sovereignty and the Tehran-Moscow connection.

The ambassador also added: even if the topic of Ukraine ceases to be central, European countries, in his assessment, will find other grounds for “destructive measures” against Iran.

In the diplomat’s interpretation, the key motive of European capitals is to punish any state that conducts an independent foreign policy and does not follow Brussels’ directives. This rhetoric describes sanctions not as a response to specific actions but as a tool of discipline.

Ukraine and “peace proposals”: how it is presented in Tehran

Commenting on the conflict itself, Dedov stated that Moscow continues to adhere to the “peace proposals” previously voiced by Vladimir Putin. It is important that such wording is aimed at an external audience — including in the Middle East, where Moscow tries to appear both as a participant in the war and as a “negotiator.”

A separate line in the interview is an attempt to reject the thesis of Russia’s isolation after the start of the full-scale invasion. The ambassador claims that the opposite is happening: Russia’s presence on the international stage is allegedly strengthening.

Iran as Moscow’s support: drones and production

The key practical context of these statements is the military-technical connection between Russia and Iran. Since the full-scale invasion, Iran has become an important ally of Moscow: it supplies strike drones and helps establish their production on Russian territory.

This aspect is important not only for Ukraine, which faces the use of such drones, but also for Israel: Iran is considered a strategic adversary, and the expansion of its military capabilities and the export of technologies into Russia’s hands change the balance of risks in the region.

What Tehran receives: S-400, fighters, and “strategic partnership”

In response to Iran’s support, Russia, as noted, provides Tehran with fighters and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. Moreover, last summer, a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, including military cooperation, was signed between the presidents of Iran and Russia.

And here, Moscow’s “peacekeeping” role in the Iran-Syria issue looks ambiguous: on one hand, the Kremlin offers itself as a mediator in regional normalization, on the other — it strengthens the military alliance with Iran against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and increased international tension.

For Israel and European capitals, this forms a single picture: Moscow’s diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East go hand in hand with attempts to solidify the Russia-Iran axis, and that is why any statements about “normalization” are perceived through the prism of security and war. NNews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency