Moscow criticizes Iranian press due to false Israel war allegations

(MENAFN) The Russian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized certain Iranian media outlets for spreading what it called “outrageous” and false claims that Moscow betrayed Tehran during its recent conflict with Israel. In a statement on Friday, Russia accused “hostile forces” of attempting to damage the relationship between the two allied nations.

The controversy stems from Iran’s accusation that Russia failed to provide sufficient support when Israel launched attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Israel claimed the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon—an allegation Tehran has consistently denied. Despite a lack of evidence from both the IAEA and U.S. intelligence agencies, Washington participated in the strikes, which resulted in significant damage and dozens of deaths, including scientists and military personnel.

Although Russia condemned the attacks as a blatant breach of international law, some Iranian media accused Moscow of being an unreliable ally. One of the most serious allegations came from Iranian official Mohammad Sadr, who claimed in an August 24 interview that Russia had provided Israel with the coordinates of Iran’s air defense systems.

Moscow rejected these claims as “absurd” and “baseless,” noting that even Iran’s own Foreign Ministry distanced itself from Sadr’s statements. Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that the allegations were unsupported by evidence and did not represent Iran’s official stance.

Russia expressed concern over what it sees as a pattern of misinformation aimed at driving a wedge between Moscow and Tehran. It highlighted how Sadr’s claims were quickly amplified by outlets like BBC Arabic, portraying a false narrative of distrust between the two countries.

The Russian government reaffirmed its condemnation of the Israeli-led attacks and reiterated its support for Iran’s right to develop peaceful nuclear energy. It also emphasized the strength of its strategic partnership with Iran, which includes cooperation on nuclear energy, security, and resistance to Western sanctions. Russia played a key role in Iran’s civilian nuclear development, including the revival of the Bushehr plant through state-owned company Rosatom.

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