In front of the Iranian embassy in Moscow, people leave bouquets of carnations, red roses and stuffed animals. After the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences and called the attack on him a "cynical murder". The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the "hunt" against the leaders of sovereign states.
Criticism and warm words: Russia is powerlessly watching the escalation in the Middle East - as it did before in Venezuela. But he also feels concerned - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov once again stressed disappointment that "despite the incoming information about significant progress in the negotiations, the situation has escalated to direct aggression".
Propagandists have turned their blades against the US
The Kremlin officially refrains from harsh criticism of the US, ARD notes. But propagandists in Russia are more direct. Ultranationalist ideologist Alexander Dugin complained on Telegram that Putin's allies "are being systematically destroyed one after another". And he warned that "negotiations with such an enemy" - i.e. The USA - means one thing: the fall of those in power.
One of the most famous propagandists in the country - Vladimir Solovyov - in turn warned with an eye to Ukraine: "Russia will either win this war, or Russia will no longer exist". The Russian war in Ukraine was a war against NATO, i.e. "against its masters, the Americans". Now this was clearly seen in their aggression against Iran.
Agreement on mutual assistance within certain limits
In mid-February, Iran and Russia held joint naval maneuvers off the coast of the Islamic Republic, the German public media recalls. A year ago, the two countries signed a strategic agreement on cooperation relating to the military, trade and research. The two countries are seriously affected by Western sanctions and want to support each other.
However, the agreement is not a classic mutual aid treaty, writes ARD, explaining that they did not agree to support each other in the event of an attack by a third country.
A few days ago, "Financial Times" reported on a secret arms deal between Russia and Iran. It envisaged Russia selling Iran thousands of portable missiles, worth around 500 million euros. And at the beginning of the war against Ukraine, Iran supplied drones to Russia. In the meantime, it is able to produce large quantities of armed drones itself based on Iranian technology, the German public media outlet points out.
The rise in oil prices is welcome for the budget
Following the attacks launched by the US and Israel, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz - the key sea route for transporting oil. Oil tankers are the targets of the attacks.
This has led to a rise in the price of oil, but its higher price is crucial for the Russian budget, respectively for the offensive war against Ukraine. Moreover, recently, revenues from oil and gas exports have been steadily falling, ARD notes.
Theoretically, Russia could now increase the quantities exported to China, wrote the Russian newspaper "Kommersant". However, it also points out that after the "customs war" China and the United States have signed a trade agreement in which China has committed to limiting oil supplies from Russia.
Russian experts are cautiously optimistic about the rise in oil prices, as long-term developments cannot be predicted at the moment, the German public media writes.
Regarding Russia's overall geopolitical situation, Russian Americanist Andrei Kortunov says the following: "Of course, it is bad for your partner to be hit, especially if you can do nothing".
Author: Sielke Dietrich (ARD)