FM Speaks To Iranian Counterpart Following Strikes On Israel

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held another call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, the second contact between the two countries since the Iraniain missile and drone strikes aimed towards Israel over the weekend. According to an Iranian MFA statement, Amirabdollahian "clarified the objectives and method of the Iranian armed forces’ military action against specific targets in the Israeli-occupied territories." He described the strikes as a "limited move was meant to deter, punish and warn the Zionist regime, adding Iran will definitely give a very firm response in case the regime makes a new move against [Iran]"

• According to the Iranian readout, Lavrov said“We had no doubts that Iran would respond to the Israeli regime’s attacks on the consular building of the embassy and we believe that the process of taking the action was based on a responsible response coupled with restraint.”
• While Russia has sought to urge 'restraint' from all actors in the region, Moscow's contineud reliance on Iranian supplies for conducting its invasion of Ukraine - notably Shahed drones - has seen the two countries become increasingly close (to the detriment of historically firm Russo-Israeli ties).
• For Russia, the escalation towards a major conflagration between Iran and Israel could pose some risks to its own operations. Should a conflagration break out in the Middle East, Tehran could be less inclined to export Shaheds to Russia as it may need them for its own defence or other strikes in Israel.