Where are Iran’s allies? Why Moscow, Beijing are keeping their distance
Why it matters: The lack of military backing from Iran's allies reshapes regional power dynamics and global stability.
- Russia and China jointly condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran as a violation of international law and human morals, requesting an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
- President Vladimir Putin specifically called the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a "cynical violation of all norms of human morals."
- China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi urged de-escalation, stating to his Israeli counterpart that "force cannot truly solve problems."
- Neither Russia nor China has indicated a willingness to intervene militarily, despite their close diplomatic ties and strategic partnership treaties with Iran.
- Andrey Kortunov, a Russian foreign policy expert, clarified that Russia's strategic partnership with Iran lacks a mutual defense clause, unlike its "more binding" agreement with North Korea, making direct military intervention unlikely due to high risks.
Despite strong condemnation of the US-Israeli attack on Iran and shared geopolitical interests, Russia and China are notably withholding military support, highlighting the limits of their strategic partnerships with Tehran. While both nations decried the actions as violations of international law and human morals, their bilateral agreements with Iran lack mutual defense clauses, signaling a reluctance to escalate the conflict directly.
