Vladimir Putin spoke about Russia's readiness to help end the war during a meeting with Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan; a proposal from the president of a country that has close relations with Tehran and has managed to maintain its dialogue channel with Donald Trump. But what capabilities does Moscow have to bring the two sides closer, and to what extent is ending the war compatible with its interests?
Putin's Message to Trump
The Kremlin announced two days after this meeting that Putin, in coordination with Pezeshkian, conveyed Iran's position on a possible solution to Trump. This is not the first time Putin has expressed readiness to help resolve this crisis, but this time his proposal has reached Washington as a message from Tehran. Can the direct involvement of the Russian president assist the numerous mediators' efforts that have so far been unsuccessful in bridging the positions of Iran and the United States?
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Russia's Opportunities in the Iran War
The Iran war and the disruption of energy exports from the Persian Gulf have created opportunities for Russia; a country that has faced extensive Western sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine. The rise in oil prices and the market's need for alternative supplies have strengthened Moscow's position, leading some analysts to conclude that Russia benefits from the continuation of the conflict in its current form.
Hamidreza Azizi, a senior analyst on Iran at the International Crisis Group, says: "When Putin talks about helping to end the war, we are primarily faced with a diplomatic gesture. Russia wants to show the U.S. that it has channels at its disposal and can play a role in the crisis."
This situation has also led to changes in China's oil market; as restrictions on Iranian oil sales have allowed Russia to gain a larger foothold in the Chinese market and achieve significant benefits. Nikita Smegin, a researcher on Iran and Russia's foreign policy, states: "The maritime blockade of Iran has been one of the biggest boons for the Kremlin."
However, some observers believe that Russia cannot simply be considered the winner in this situation, as the intensification of tensions in the Persian Gulf has also incurred costs for Moscow.
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