Moscow condemns the killing of Iran’s Ali Larijani and denies sharing intelligence, as Tehran vows retaliation for the Israeli airstrike.
MOSCOW: Russia has condemned the killing of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike, with Tehran vowing retaliation for his death.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow firmly condemns actions aimed at harming the leadership of sovereign Iran during a daily briefing.
Larijani had met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in January, just as US navy ships were heading towards the region ahead of the subsequent US-Israeli air campaign.
Moscow, a close ally of heavily sanctioned Iran, has consistently condemned the US and Israeli attacks which have prompted missile and drone strikes from Tehran on US allies across the Gulf.
The two nations signed a broad cooperation agreement last year that included a vow to help counter common security threats without forming a full mutual defence pact.
Russia has sent humanitarian aid to Iran since the outbreak of hostilities but has declined to comment publicly on any further military or intelligence support.
The Kremlin last week denied a Washington Post report alleging it passed sensitive intelligence on US warship and aircraft locations to Iran.
Iran emerged as a key ally for Russia during the Ukraine war by supplying drones used to attack Ukrainian cities at the conflict’s outset.