Russia continues to offer no support but boilerplate condemnations to Iran following the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials.[1] Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 1 expressing condolences for the deaths of Khamenei, Khamenei’s family members, and several Iranian officials due to US-Israeli strikes.[2] Putin criticized the deaths as an “assassination” committed in “cynical violation” of “human morality and international law,” but did not mention the United States or Israel. Putin stated that Russia will remember Khamenei as an “outstanding statesman” who elevated Russian-Iranian relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed outrage at the deaths and criticized the United States and Israel for “hunting” Iran’s leaders in violation of international law and the principles of “civilized interstate relations.”[3] The Russian MFA reiterated its calls to cease hostilities and resume diplomatic dialogue and criticized civilian casualties in the Gulf States, damages to civilian infrastructure, and the alleged cessation of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had separate calls on March 1 with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman al Thani, and People’s Republic of China (PRC) Foreign Minister Wang Yi about the US-Israeli strikes against Iran and reiterated his condemnation of the strikes.[4] Lavrov and Wang jointly offered to coordinate actions with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and other international organizations to help “stabilize” the situation.[5] Russian officials, including Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova, and the Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov, all made similar condemnations and calls to resume dialogue.[6] Russia’s boilerplate responses continue to highlight the limits of Russia’s ability to support Iran and the asymmetry of the Russian-Iranian relationship.[7] The Kremlin will likely remain constrained by its own war effort in Ukraine and its desire to extract concessions from the United States without sacrificing its goals in Ukraine.[8]
European states continue to crack down on Russian shadow fleet vessels sailing in violation of international sanctions. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced on March 1 that Belgian forces successfully boarded and seized a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker with support from French forces during Operation Blue Intruder.[9] Francken stated that authorities are escorting the ship to the Port of Zeebrugge to formally seize it. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the French Navy helicopters helped Belgian forces during the operation and noted that European states are determined to enforce sanctions against Russia.[10] Belgian officials told Western and Belgian news outlets that the seized oil tanker is the Ethera, which flew a Guinean flag and was headed toward Russia at the time of the seizure.[11] Data from the Starboard Maritime Intelligence ship-tracking platform indicates that the vessel has previously sailed under the flags of Guinea, Panama, Martinique, and Equatorial Guinea and made at least two trips to Novorossiysk, Russia. Starboard also indicated that the ship’s automatic identification system (AIS) went dark from October 2, 2025, to February 1, 2026. The United States Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the European Union have both listed the ship as a sanctioned entity.[12] The Belgian seizure comes against the backdrop of increasing European — especially French — and US efforts to crack down on vessels sailing in violation of international sanctions.[13] The Russian Embassy in Belgium claimed that it has not received official communications from Belgium about the seizure of the Ethera and is working to determine the nationality of its crew.[14]
Key Takeaways
- Russia continues to offer no support but boilerplate condemnations to Iran following the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials.
- European states continue to crack down on Russian shadow fleet vessels sailing in violation of international sanctions.
- Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Dobropillya tactical area. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical ar