Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Nowruz greetings to Iran’s leaders, emphasizing that Moscow will remain a “close friend and reliable partner” to Tehran. The Kremlin released the message on Saturday, noting Putin’s wishes for the Iranian people to face current challenges with courage. He addressed his greetings to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Despite Putin’s assurances, some Iranian sources reportedly question the extent of Russia’s actual support, arguing that Tehran has not received the expected assistance during what they describe as the country’s most severe crisis since the 1979 revolution. Russia, meanwhile, blames U.S. and Israeli attacks for destabilizing the Middle East and affecting global energy markets, condemning the assault on Iran’s supreme leader as a “cruel act.”

According to Politico, Moscow allegedly proposed to Washington that if the U.S. stopped sharing intelligence on Russia with Ukraine, Russia would halt intelligence exchanges with Iran. The U.S. reportedly rejected the offer, which the Kremlin later dismissed as false.