Part 3/13:
The context of this shift is crucial. It comes mere weeks after a fierce 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, during which Russia largely remained on the sidelines, offering limited support to Tehran. Analysts suggest that Moscow’s reluctance to directly involve itself in the latest flare-up stems from its overstretched military commitments—waging a prolonged war in Ukraine—and its cautious approach to avoiding direct confrontation with the US. Nonetheless, Russia's covert encouragement for Iran to abandon enrichment suggests a nuanced calculus—one that balances Moscow’s strategic interests with its regional alliances.