Russia may be 'a friend' of Iran, but it seems unlikely to offer much help

The Iranian foreign minister said Sunday that he was heading to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, as Iran weighed a response to a wave of U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites.

There was little sign that Russia was prepared to provide military assistance to Iran, its closest remaining Middle East ally, as it prioritized its own war against Ukraine. Iran has not received concrete support from any allies through 10 days of war with Israel.

In announcing the trip to Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Russia "a friend of Iran" and said that the two countries "enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions."

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the American military intervention in Iran, saying it had undermined global efforts to contain the proliferation of nuclear weapons. But the Kremlin has not publicly commented on the attacks, and it has not announced any tangible steps to help Iran.

The guarded reaction reflects Putin's limited resources, with Russia in its fourth year of war in Ukraine.

Russia is trying to maintain warm relations with Iran's Middle Eastern rivals, including Saudi Arabia. The Kremlin is also likely to tread carefully on issues that may alienate President Donald Trump, whose support -- or, at least, acquiescence -- it needs to secure a peace deal in Ukraine on its own terms.

In addition, Russia has benefited from a rise in oil prices caused by the growing unrest in the Middle East.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.