Moscow delivers 313 tonnes of aid to Iran amid war

MOSCOW: Russia has delivered a shipment of 313 tonnes of medical supplies to Iran and evacuated 163 Russian specialists from the Bushehr nuclear power plant as geopolitical tensions persist across the Middle East and Europe, state media reported on Friday.

The delivery of medicines was carried out by the Russian Emergencies Ministry as part of a humanitarian mission, local media cited by Xinhua said.

In a separate operation, a group of Russian workers at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility were evacuated and were expected to cross into Armenia, according to Xinhua.

The moves come against a backdrop of heightened global tensions triggered by the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, which has reverberated through international diplomacy and energy markets. Russian officials have also been commenting on broader geopolitical dynamics, including relations with Europe and energy security.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia remained a “reliable guarantor of energy security” and dismissed reports that Moscow might restrict oil supplies via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium as leverage against the United States.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s position that it seeks to defend the interests of all Middle Eastern countries and criticised what he described as U.S. interference in the region.

The developments also unfold as European and U.S. officials meet to discuss diplomatic and security concerns. European foreign ministers are pressing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a G7 meeting to address alleged Russian support for Iran targeting U.S. forces, according to reports.

The complex web of tensions reflects broader strains in international relations, with Russia also discussing ties with the European Union and Ukraine, and dismissing claims it would use energy infrastructure to pressure the United States.