The New Statesman.

Vladimir Putin expressed deep condolences to the people of Iran over the killing of supreme

leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini by U.S. and Israeli forces.

The Russian president, currently leading his own brutal and illegal war in Ukraine,

condemned what he called Khmernai'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 U.S.-Israel war on Russia's ally. So, is Trump's war in Iran playing into Russia's hands?

I'm Anoush Shikelian and this is Daily Politics from the New Statesman. Our global affairs editor,

Katie Stalard, joins me down the line from Washington, D.C. Hi, Katie. Hi, Anoush.

Thanks so much for joining us.

Explain to us a little bit about the relationship between Russia and Iran,

because we often talk about them as allies, but how straightforward is that really?

So they're not allies in the sense that I think most people would understand the meaning of that.

And as we're seeing now,

there is no mutual defence treaty. There is really no question that Russia is going to fight

on Iran's behalf. Their own term is strategic partners. And they, as you mentioned there,

signed a 20-year treaty to that effect last year deepening their cooperation.

But I think the best way to think of it is a sort of pragmatic alignment that is far from total.

They don't agree on anything, on everything rather.

I think the connective tissue that you see is shared opposition to a US-dominated international order.

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