Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia December 7, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS
In a fiery exchange on Thursday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi accused the West of endorsing what he termed “genocide” committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. This charge was leveled during talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of Putin’s recent series of meetings addressing Middle East concerns.
Despite the growing military cooperation between Russia and Iran, a contentious issue with the United States, neither leader directly referenced this development in their televised opening remarks. Instead, the focus was on discussions about the Middle East, with Putin emphasizing the importance of addressing the situation in the Palestinian territories.
Raisi, backed by Iran’s support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, described the events in Palestine and Gaza as “genocide and a crime against humanity.” He expressed disappointment that such actions were allegedly supported by the United States and the broader Western world.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has served Russia’s interests by diverting global attention from the Ukrainian conflict. Moscow has managed to align itself with developing countries expressing solidarity with the Palestinians. Putin, while expressing sympathy for the suffering in Gaza, has faced criticism from Western governments for alleged hypocrisy, given Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The Russia-Iran military ties have raised concerns, drawing parallels with North Korea’s collaboration with Russia. Iran, an avowed U.S. adversary, has the potential to supply Moscow with military hardware for the Ukrainian conflict. The Kremlin confirmed the expansion of relations with Iran, including military-technical cooperation, but avoided commenting on speculation about Iran providing ballistic missiles to Russia.
The White House has expressed worry about the growing defense relationship between Russia and Iran. Iran has indicated ongoing expansion of military cooperation with Russia, with recent arrangements finalizing the acquisition of Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 pilot training aircraft.
The meeting in Moscow, attended by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, underscores the complexities of geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, where accusations of double standards are prevalent, and alliances are forged amidst conflicting interests.
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