Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Iranian leaders on the occasion of the Nowruz holiday and said that Moscow remains a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran, Reuters reported, citing a Kremlin statement today, BTA reported.
Putin sent greetings to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, the Kremlin said.
"Vladimir Putin wished the Iranian people to overcome difficult trials with dignity and stressed that in this difficult time Moscow remains a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran," the statement also said.
However, the scale of Moscow's support for Iran is questionable, Reuters notes. Some Iranian sources said their country was not receiving much help from Moscow in the biggest crisis Iran has faced since the Shah was overthrown in 1979.
Russia says the US and Israeli attack on Iran has caused a global energy crisis, and has called the assassination of the Islamic Republic's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "cynical."