Russia warned Israel against its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, saying it puts the world on the "brink of a catastrophe". Israel has struck nuclear facilities across Iran, including at Bushehr, Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak. It accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes.

As Trump considers joining the war in the Middle East, Iran’s ally says there could be potentially perilous consequences for the world.

Leaning into pro-Palestinian and anti-Western sentiment allowed Russia to score points with global public opinion. But dynamics that initially seemed to benefit Russia quickly became a strategic headache.