Lavrov Expects Continuity In Russia-Iran Relations

Wires carrying comments from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating that he expects "continuity" in Russia-Iran relations following the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

• Lavrov says: "I met Iranian official, he confirmed continuity of Iran - Russia relations… I don't see reasons to speculate on changes in Iran’s foreign policy."
• Although there have been few formal accusations of US involvement in the accident, Lavrov notes: "US sanctions, including ban on supplies of spare parts for aircraft, worsen air safety."
• Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday: “As a true friend to Russia’s, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the establishing of neighborly relations between our two countries and made great efforts to elevate them to the level of strategic partnership."
• Lavrov's comments are consistent with remarks made by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday downplaying the broader security implications of Raisi's death.
• However, domestic uncertainty while leadership in Tehran is consolidated may put Iran-Russia military cooperation, which has tightened dramatically since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on the backburner. Although Lavrov notes that he doesn't see Iran's foreign policy changing, a period of domestic uncertainty could impact transfers of ballistic missiles and drones to Russia which have been critical to recent Russian military superiority and territorial gains in Ukraine.
• Austin said at the Pentagon yesterday: "I don't necessarily see any broader regional security impacts at this point in time [from Raisi's death]."