Meisam Mehrani, a political analyst, said that Russia could help open the path to negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the United States, but ending the war in and of itself is not Moscow’s priority, and Putin, above all, looks to Russian interests, including the Ukraine file.

He added that Russia’s military relationship with the Islamic Republic does not mean Moscow is obligated to provide defensive support, and, according to Mehrani, Russia will not enter a direct war with the United States for Tehran. As Mehrani said, the Islamic Republic, under maritime, aerial, and ground pressure, is looking for a more powerful intermediary, but Russia’s role is primarily to serve the increase of Moscow’s bargaining power against Washington.