Russia has established itself as a possible facilitator to the growing crisis between the United States and Israel and Iran despite its ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine. Such a two-sided stance, which criticizes the purported aggression in other countries, but then engage in sustained military action in their own country, also creates serious law and normative issues in the international law, especially the ban on the use of force and the sovereign equality principle.
Currently, Moscow openly insists that the state of affairs concerning the alleged U.S and Israeli attacks against Iran be brought back to a political and diplomatic course. Russian Foreign Ministry had described the attacks in a statement dated 28 February as a premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. Member State. It cautioned that an act like that would lead to a humanitarian, economic, and perhaps radiological catastrophe, and urged the international community, such as the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to give an objective and uncompromising evaluation. Legally, Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter was used by the language of Russia because it forbids the use or threat to use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov then made a phone call to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi where he suggested Moscow as a possible mediator. This diplomatic involvement is based on initial reports that Iran has initiated retaliatory attacks on the regions that host U.S. military bases in the Middle East, which increases the threat of escalation in the region. Article 51 of the U.N. Charter provides that, in case Iran believes that it is the target of an armed attack, it would have the right to engage in self-defense, the reasonableness and the need of any retaliation would be subject to international law.
All these are being developed as Russia itself continues to wage war in Ukraine. In spite of the current peace talks between Ukraine and the United States, Russian troops have continued with missile and drone attacks on the front-line areas as well as on the cities like Kyiv. Over four years after the full-scale invasion, the Russian forces are still steadily advancing, bringing masses of people. This contradiction complicates Moscow in appealing to the principles of sovereignty and non-aggression in law because the 2022 invasion of Ukraine has been broadly described as a crime against the U.N. Charter of aggressive war.
Going backwards, the U.S. and Israeli attacks are condemned by Russia, which is at the same time developing military collaboration between Tehran and Moscow. Iran has already provided drones and other military gadgets deployed by the Russian troops in Ukraine, which enhances bilateral defense relations. The two nations held joint naval exercises on the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean on 19 February, as the U.S. was reported to have been deploying warships in the area. General It is legal in principle under the international law, as long as they do not threaten third states, but they also indicate a strategic orientation.
Before these events, on 22 February, some reports covered a secret EUR 500 million agreement signed by Iran with Russia to purchase thousands of hi-tech shoulder-furniture.