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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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Moscow has said it was not obliged to help Iran under a potential U.S. attack after President Donald Trump warned Tehran against getting a nuclear weapon.
On Monday, Trump said the U.S. was having direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program which western countries fear will lead to it developing a weapon. Tehran, which says its program is for peaceful purposes, said the meeting in Oman would be through an intermediary.
Trump warned if the talks were not successful "it'll be a very bad day for Iran." He had earlier threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement over its nuclear program.
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Russian deputy foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said a U.S. attack on Iran would have dire consequences for the region but Moscow would offer any help in negotiations between Tehran, with which it has close military ties, and Washington.
However, he added that Moscow did not have to help Tehran in the event of such an attack. Hamidreza Azizi, an Iran expert, told Newsweek that Iranian leaders know that they are on their own if there were a U.S. attack.
Newsweek has contacted the Iranian foreign ministry for comment.
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Why It Matters
Buoyed by the shared experience of tough U.S-led sanctions, Russia and Iran have close military ties, which have deepened since Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion. Tehran has supplied Shahed drones to Moscow, a weapon that has wreaked havoc on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure during Putin's invasion.
While Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian signed the Iranian–Russian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January, it had no clause for mutual defense if one party is attacked. Rudenko's comments show the limits of that partnership, in the light of Trump's threats.
What To Know
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, Trump said that direct talks were underway between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran later said that the talks would be indirect and CNN was among outlets reporting that U.S. officials would discuss a nuclear deal with Iranian officials in Oman.
Trump said that "doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious," and added that the obvious is "not something that I want to be involved with."
He said that "it's getting to be very dangerous territory," adding that Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks were not successful it would be a "very bad day" for Iran.
Rudenko said any U.S. attack on Iran would have bad consequences for the region as he said Russia would provide any other assistance with mediation.
Hamidreza Azizi, a research fellow at German think tank SWP Berlin, told Newsweek Tuesday despite ever closer ties between Tehran and Moscow, the limitations of their bilateral relationship had always been evident.
He said that Russia has never wanted to become entangled in a potential confrontation between Iran and either the United States or Israel and given Moscow's ongoing diplomatic engagement with the Trump administration, it is even less inclined to get involved.
Russia also places significant value on its relationships with Israel and Iran's Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf, he added. What Tehran wants from Moscow is political support, particularly in the UN Security Council, which is why they've initiated a new trilateral track on the nuclear issue, together with China.
"Iran needs the support of both Russia and China in the Security Council more than ever. But Iranian leaders are fully aware that they are on their own if an actual attack occurs," Azizi added.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump at the White House: "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if the talks aren't successful, I actually think it'll be a very bad day for Iran."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, per Russian state media: "Moscow is not obligated to provide military assistance to Tehran under the strategic partnership agreement."
Hamidreza Azizi, from the German think tank SWP Berlin: "Despite the close relationship Iran has had with Moscow over the past few years... the limitations of their bilateral relationship — especially when it comes to Russia's direct military support — have always been evident.
What Happens Next
Talks will take place in Oman starting Saturday although it is not clear who will be participating. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is believed to be handling the Iran file, according to CNN.
Hazizi said that Iran's aim is to gain leverage regarding both the U.S. and Europe, especially now that the risk of snapback sanctions at the United Nations is looming.
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