Russia states that it has no plans to forsake Iran despite Israel's fury.

• The Kremlin stated that it has no plans to abandon Iran amid the possibility of a direct attack from Israel.
• In Gaza and Lebanon, Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran's proxies, have been subjected to intense attacks.
• Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin Press Secretary, informed CNBC on Tuesday that Russia intends to continue cooperation with Iran in multiple areas.
• The BRICS summit in Kazan, southwestern Russia, is being closely watched to determine how Russia could support Iran.

The Kremlin stated that it has no plans to abandon Iran despite the anticipated direct attack from Israel.

Iran is facing pressure due to Israeli attacks on its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the possibility of a direct attack by Israel in response to a missile attack it launched against its regional rival.

Speculation has arisen that Iran is seeking retribution and Russian assistance in response to its current predicament, although the specifics of this support remain unclear.

The Kremlin stated that it planned to strengthen its alliance with Iran, regardless of the heightened tensions in the Middle East and the need to balance competing interests and alliances in the region.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin Press Secretary, informed CNBC on Tuesday that Russia intends to continue cooperation with Iran in multiple areas.

He emphasized that the cooperation was not aimed at opposing third countries, but he did not confirm whether Iran had requested Russian support against Israel in his translated email comments.

Russia is a close ally of Iran but must balance its military and economic partnerships in the wider Middle East. It is one of the few countries to maintain good relations with both Iran and Israel, as well as with other key players in the region such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Peskov told CNBC that Russia maintains a dialogue with all parties involved in the conflict in the Middle East.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow and Tehran's relationship has evolved. Iran has reportedly supplied Russia with one-way attack drones and short-range missiles to use against Ukraine, in exchange for military technology and hardware from Moscow.

Despite denying any arms exchanges during the Ukrainian conflict, both nations have been heavily-sanctioned by Western nations due to their involvement.

CNBC reported that analysts stated that Iran requires Russian air defense systems and military intelligence to safeguard itself from Israel's promised retaliatory attack following Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel's territory on Oct. 1.

Israel has promised to retaliate, but we are unsure of the targets and timing of an attack. Despite assuring the U.S. that it would not target Iran's nuclear or oil production sites, Israel has vowed to take action.

Last week, when Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, admitted responsibility for a drone attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home, Netanyahu vowed that Iran and its proxies, which he labeled an "axis of evil," would face severe consequences for the assassination attempt.

"Iranian agents who attempted to assassinate me and my wife on Saturday made a grave error," he stated in a post on X.

I will not be deterred from continuing the war of revival against our enemies to secure our safety for future generations, no matter what the Iranians and their allies in the axis of evil do. I declare to the Iranians and their accomplices: Anyone who harms the citizens of the State of Israel will face severe consequences.

Russia and Iran's 'strategic' deal

The BRICS summit in Kazan, southwestern Russia, is being closely watched to determine how Russia could support Iran.

The organization, originally comprised of major developing economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include Iran and other countries from the "Global South," in contrast to the industrialized "Global North" of the West.

It is anticipated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will sign a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement at the summit, indicating a strengthening of cooperation in various areas, including a possible military level.

Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow for Middle East security at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, stated in emailed comments to CNBC that a commitment to defense cooperation is likely to be vaguely worded and deliberately opaque, and that Russia and Iran will align against a Western 'agenda of aggression'.

She pointed out that the audience for these statements should be considered, as they convey a message to the U.S and its allies about the emergence of alternative alliances, while also serving as a call to action for the Global South against the power hierarchy established by the UN Security Council.

Both Moscow and Tehran are in a strategic partnership driven by mutual interests.

She observed that both parties are taking different approaches to minimize losses in their respective conflict zones and protect their cross-border interests.