While the US bombs Iran, the Kremlin will see immediate advantages for Russia.

Vladimir Putin expressed “deep condolences” to the people of Iran over the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US and Israeli forces.

The Russian president – currently leading his own brutal and illegal war in Ukraine – condemned what he called Khamenei’s “assassination” as a “cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law”.

Russia and Iran are long-term “strategic partners”. They signed a new treaty in January last year.

But while Putin offers consoling words to Iran, the Kremlin will undoubtedly have eyes on the potential benefits to them of a US-Israel war on Russia’s ally.

So, is Trump’s war in Iran playing into Russia’s hands?

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