The US-Israel war on Iran, and the subsequent escalation of tensions following the Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, has caught Russia in a tight spot. It is therefore unsurprising that Moscow welcomed the news of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. Having engaged closely with Tehran in recent years – including signing a military cooperation agreement in January 2025 – Moscow naturally sympathises with the Iranian position, providing diplomatic, humanitarian and limited military support.
The tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have seemingly presented a window of opportunity for the Russian economy, with soaring oil prices and the US waiver on Russian oil imports. Furthermore, the Middle East crisis is believed to benefit Russian interests by distracting the US’ attention and resources from the war in Ukraine. Simultaneously, Russia’s close historic ties to Israel, coupled with an attempt to maintain engagement with the United States, have compelled it to tread a delicate line. Shifting alignments in the Gulf, a region that has become a safe harbour for Russian capital, further complicate Moscow’s strategic calculations.
Taken together, these developments affect India’s strategic interests as New Delhi has navigated the crisis, maintaining close contact with the various parties involved and capitalising on its partnership with Russia to secure its energy needs.
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