Ex-Iranian security official slams Russia's lack of support in Israel attack

The former head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh has criticized Russia's refusal to defend Iran's attack on Israel this week.

Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said that while global powers such as the US and UK quickly mobilized to intercept Iran's 350 plus projectiles launched Saturday night, no significant support came Iran's way, not even from Russia, who Iran has provided with support for its war on Ukraine, Iran International reports.

“The developments showed that Iran is alone in the region. The world's powers came to Israel's aid to reduce the aerial pressure on Israel, but other powers did not come to Iran's aid even in wartime conditions. Russia was not willing to provide Iran with the necessary equipment in recent times.”

The comments echo Falahatpisheh's earlier criticisms of Russian policies. In January, he accused Moscow of seeking a 'partner in crime' for its actions in Ukraine, referring to Iran's provision of suicide drones to Russia.

Since October 2022, Iran has supplied drones to Russia, which have been used to target infrastructure and civilian areas in Ukraine. These drones, employed alongside missile strikes, aim to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

Despite initial denials from Iran about supplying Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia, the Iranian government eventually acknowledged sending a limited batch before the Ukraine conflict escalated.

Since initiating its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has boosted its military cooperation with Iran.

Critics are increasingly expressing doubts about Russia's dependability as an ally to Iran, especially concerning nuclear issues and broader foreign policy concerns.

In November, the Kremlin stated that Russia and Iran are progressing in their relationship, emphasizing their collaboration in "military-technical cooperation."