How Russia could benefit from the US-Israeli war on Iran
Al Jazeera
March 3, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The US-Israeli attacks on Iran, including the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayotallah Ali Khamenei, have caused mixed reactions in Moscow. While some Russian commentators express concern about potential retaliation despite Russia's nuclear arsenal, others view the conflict as a validation of their own geopolitical strategy, particularly their aggressive actions in Ukraine. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US-led war on Iran echoes past interventions like NATO's attack on Libya in 2011, which he perceives as reckless Western actions that destabilized the region and justified Russia's intervention in Ukraine.
Putin sees the US-Israeli campaign against Iran as a confirmation of his long-held view of the West as irrational and unpredictable. The ousting of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his brutal murder in 2011, following NATO's intervention, deeply influenced Putin's threat perceptions. This event, along with subsequent Western interventions in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, convinced Putin that Russia must act preemptively to prevent similar outcomes for himself and his country.
The Kremlin's strategy in Ukraine is rooted in a Soviet-era doctrine of launching preventive wars on enemy territory to avoid regime change or foreign intervention. By framing Ukraine as the decisive battleground against the West, Russia has shielded its population from the war's tangible impacts, presenting it as an inevitable clash with the US-led order. Iran's unexpected alliance with Russia, despite historical tensions, highlights Moscow's ability to leverage unlikely partnerships to counter Western
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 3/3/2026