The joint Israeli-U.S. airstrikes on Iran mark not a defensive maneuver, but a calculated move in a broader geopolitical game — one that could spiral beyond control, with Iran and Russia aligning ever more tightly in resistance to Western aggression.
“Trump says to make Iran Great Again. That says it all,” an Iranian analyst told me after the recent bombing raids. “We don’t like the Ayatollahs, but this attack isn’t about them. It’s about dividing and conquering Iran — for power, oil, and control. The people are just pawns.”
One thing is clear: Iran is not backing down — and Russia is standing with it. “We have the same enemy,” Putin reportedly told the Iranian delegation in Moscow this week, shortly after the airstrikes. But what neither of the underestimates is this: Iranians are a proud, sophisticated people, well-versed in their own history — and America’s long track record of regime change.
With its back to the wall, Iran may now be more motivated than ever to press forward with its nuclear program — not out of aggression, but out of survival and national pride.
Just days before the attacks, I was listening to a panel discussion warning that an Israel–Iran war would be far more dangerous than most Western observers imagine. It’s not only about geopolitics — it’s about timing, distraction, and domestic desperation. With U.S. midterms looming, and Netanyahu’s political and legal future hanging in the balance, war might be the most convenient smokescreen, and is traditionally a way to distract voters from domestic concerns.
Iran-Russia Strategic Alignment Deepens Following Joint Israeli-U.S. Strike
Recent high-level talks between Iranian officials and their Russian counterparts in Moscow underscore a deepening strategic partnership, particularly in the aftermath of the joint Israeli-American attack on Iranian territory — a move widely condemned by Tehran as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a direct assault on its peaceful nuclear infrastructure.
Far from being a routine diplomatic exchange, the latest round of discussions opened with expressions of solidarity. The Iranian minister began by thanking President Vladimir Putin for Russia’s firm condemnation of the unprovoked strikes, emphasizing the importance of Moscow’s longstanding support — including its role in the Bushehr nuclear facility and broader nuclear cooperation.
The tone of the meeting signaled far more than polite protocol. Iran acknowledged the significance of Russia’s role in fostering regional stability and referenced the ongoing development of a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries. These discussions highlight Iran’s growing international stature in defiance of Western efforts to isolate it.
In response, President Putin remarked that the moment called for joint reflection and a shared search for practical, peaceful solutions amid an increasingly volatile regional context. His remarks, marked by warmth and sincerity, included personal greetings to President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a gesture that reinforced Russia’s diplomatic sensitivity and long-term commitment to its ally.
While formalities followed, the emotional and political weight of the exchange was unmistakable. Putin’s concern was apparent, while the Iranian delegation, though visibly stressed the possible implications of the recent attack, maintained composure and clarity, standing firm in the conviction that Iran’s position — legally, morally, and strategically — remains justified.
Official Russian Position
In a sharply worded statement issued on June 23, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, calling them a “blatant violation of international law” and a grave threat to global security.
Russia denounced the June 22 strikes as “reckless” and warned they could trigger “a dangerous escalation” in the Middle East with “potential radioactive consequences” still unknown. Particularly damning was the fact that the U.S., a permanent member of the UN Security Council, participated in what Moscow described as an “illegal act of aggression.”
The Foreign Ministry noted the attacks had “dealt a substantial blow” to the global non-proliferation regime and “undermined the credibility” of both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the IAEA’s oversight role. Moscow urged the IAEA to avoid “vague language” and produce a “professional, unbiased” report, to be submitted at the agency’s upcoming special session.
Calling for urgent diplomacy, Russia demanded “an immediate end to aggression” and insisted the UN Security Council “take a firm stance” against the U.S. and Israeli actions.
It is interesting to contrast Russia’s principled stand, along with China, with that offered by the west. In the US, there is significant concern, and anger, that Trump has taken such action in violation of his campaign promises of no more foreign wars. Needless to say, the Whitehouse and Trump’s supporters are trying to say that such an attack is not an act of war (just imagine if it was the other way around…..) with Trump posting:
We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran’s airspace. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.
While VP J.D, Vance made this ridiculous statement:
“We are not at war with Iran. We are at war with Iran’s nuclear program,”
Needless to say, US lapdogs in Europe chimed in, the vile Merz living up to the rhetoric of his Nazi grandparents with this gem:
“There is no reason for us, or for me personally, to criticize what Israel started a week ago, nor is there any reason to criticize what America did last weekend,”
Combined with his earlier statement:
“This is dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us.”
We can see that Merz is quite happy with the destruction being meted out on Iranian civilians. How German of him, or should we say “Echter Deutscher”
The scary thing is, that it is becoming increasingly apparent that the West’s refrain of “the rule of law” is really just “the rule of force”, which gives a good indicator of the level of people at the head of the west. It is often said that cream rises to the top, but shit floats
Trump has attempted to burnish his rapidly tarnishing “peacemaker” credentials by claiming to have arranged a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, though his “historic” achievement has been marred by the fact that Israel is playing its usual trick of violating ceasefires after claiming the Iranians “broke” the ceasefire by firing a missile at Northern Israel. It should be noted that no evidence has been provided other than “the word” of Israel, which is worth about as much as a 3 dollar bill.
In his defense, Trump seems to be genuinely angered by Israel “retaliating” the supposed attack with an expletive laden rant which, while blaming both sides, was mainly directed at Israel.
Unfortunately, can we trust him on this after the apparent use of diplomatic negotiations to cover for the initial Israeli attack?
For all we know, this could simply be a smokescreen to buy time for Israel to rearm for the next round of genocide, similar to the request for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which the Russians were smart enough to refuse, particularly given the history of ceasefires and the Minsk Accords in the Ukrainian conflict. In fact, a cynical person could even think the attack on Iran was a convenient distraction from the ongoing genocide in Gaza
Trump’s constant flip-flopping makes it impossible to determine where he really stands, is he clueless, or is subterfuge. What is becoming increasingly obvious, is that it is pointless for any country threatened by US aggression to negotiate, as it is almost certain the US is not acting in good faith.
The War Has Already Begun — Just Not in the Way You Think!
Make no mistake: the war against Iran has already begun, not only with bombs, but with narratives. Western leaders, guided by short-term political gain and long-term corporate profits and political payoff, are playing a very dangerous game — one that may yet spiral out of control.
But for now, Iran is not isolated. Russia is not hesitating. And the so-called “axis of resistance” is no longer just a slogan — it’s becoming a geopolitical reality.
The question now is not whether Iran will survive. The real question is whether the West understands what it has unleashed, with what looks like an initial probing attack which tested Iranian defenses and their resolve.
Jeffrey K. Silverman is a freelance journalist and international development specialist, BSc, MSc, based for 30 years in Georgia and the former Soviet Union
