January 29, 2025 | Flash Brief

‘Dangerous for the Entire World’: Israeli Envoy to Moscow Warns Against Russian Pact With Iran

January 29, 2025 | Flash Brief

‘Dangerous for the Entire World’: Israeli Envoy to Moscow Warns Against Russian Pact With Iran

Latest Developments

  • Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Criticizes New Iran-Russia Agreement: Simona Halperin, Israel’s ambassador to Russia, criticized the newly agreed Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Tehran and Moscow on January 27, adding that any attempt at strengthening Iranian military and economic capabilities “is dangerous for the entire world and particularly for Israel.” Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed the treaty on January 17, aiming to expand military and economic ties.
  • No Plans for Phone Call Between Netanyahu and Putin: Halperin said that a phone conversation between Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected in the near term but that Moscow and Jerusalem maintain diplomatic ties through official channels. By contrast, upon beginning his second term, President Donald Trump invited Netanyahu to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House, with their meeting scheduled for February 4.
  • Dugin Highlights Russia-Iran Military Ties and Strategic Alliance: Prominent Russian ideologue Aleksandr Dugin, who has close ties to Putin, published a new article arguing that Russia can provide Iran with a “nuclear umbrella” that guarantees the Iranian regime’s survival, while Tehran could help Moscow establish military bases with access to warm-water ports. Dugin also suggested that Iran serves as a better strategic ally to Russia than China, adding that the Russia-Iran alliance strengthens Putin’s position in negotiations with Trump.

FDD Expert Response

“The dictators in Russia and Tehran have made common cause. Both want to diminish American power. Both want to be great emperors. That requires the conquest of foreign lands and peoples. They are in league with Beijing, Pyongyang, and other authoritarian regimes in what may accurately be called an Axis of Aggressors. Only the United States can lead the effort to thwart the ambitions of these neo-imperialist enemies of America and the free world.” — Clifford D. May, Founder & President

“Naturally, the axis of authoritarians and aggressors that has emerged is deepening their political and security ties with one another. While it is imperative to look for where there is breadth versus depth in the Iran-Russia relationship, the trendline is nonetheless a worrying one for the United States and the West. To that end, the latest Iran-Russia agreement will further formalize ties between the two, with the more important and worrisome elements likely hidden from public view.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow

“Dugin openly discusses how Russia can leverage its ties with Iran during negotiations with Trump. Therefore, Trump must not fall for Putin’s plans regarding Iran. We must not trick ourselves into believing we understand our enemy by assuming that he thinks like us. Russia’s strategic deception succeeds not so much because of Putin’s ability to deceive Washington but rather because of Washington’s tendency to deceive itself.” — Ivana Stradner, FDD Research Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

Russia Touts Illicit Nuclear Work in Iran,” by Andrea Stricker

‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’: Russia and Iran Set to Sign Pact After Presidential Visit,” FDD Flash Brief

‘Sought to Divide the American People’: U.S. Sanctions Iranian and Russian Entities Pushing Disinformation,” FDD Flash Brief

Issues:

Issues:

Iran Iran Nuclear Israel Israel at War Russia

Topics:

Topics:

Iran Israel Tehran Russia China Donald Trump Jerusalem Clifford May Moscow Benjamin Netanyahu Beijing White House Vladimir Putin Pyongyang Masoud Pezeshkian