By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

48 hours after the United States launched air strikes on Iran, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi is now set to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladmir Putin today, with the potential of asking for military assistance from them to combat against Israel and the United States. 

Moscow is a big financial backer to Tehran, but little has been done by them to help Iran to manage the attacks since June 13, which eventually led Iran to respond with missile and drone attacks against Israel.

 Even though Russia has not out right given Iran any military backing since these attacks occurred, they have however been vocal about condemning these attacks against Iran by the United States. This has not met the obligations of the partnership agreement between Moscow and Tehran. Putin had initially been forthright about being a potential mediator in the Iran-Israel conflict, however since Friday Putin has amended this by stating that he seeks to only give suggestions in the matter.

 “We are by no means seeking to act as a mediator, we are simply suggesting ideas.” said Putin at the economic forum which was held in St Petersburg. 

Russia and Iran are close allies, with Iran providing military aid to Russia for the war against Ukraine, and as an extension of gratitude they have provided Iran with aid for their civilian nuclear programme. 

South Africa has also been vocal in the conflict as the South African government urges Iran-Israel to have a diplomatic approach about their conflict. The South African had hoped that President Trump would use his influence to inspire the two nations to have a peaceful dialogue about their situation, but instead has aggravated the conflict and even contributed by issuing drone strikes against three of Iran’s nuclear sites. 

Dmitry Peskov who is a spokesperson of the Russian Federation has stated that if anyone persists in the assasination attempt of the Ayatollah, then it will open up the pandora’s box of an outright war.