Iran Says It Has Military Cooperation With Russia: Emerging U.S.-Israel vs. Iran-Russia Bloc?

The Financial News reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran has reaffirmed its military cooperation with Russia and declared it is prepared for a prolonged confrontation with the United States of America (U.S.) and Israel. As the war in the Middle East drags on and Iran openly highlights its strategic partnership with Russia, some observers say the conflict may be evolving into a U.S.-Israel versus Iran-Russia standoff.
In an interview with NBC News on the 8th (local time), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, "Military cooperation between Iran and Russia is neither new nor secret," adding, "It existed in the past and will continue in the future."
Asked about reports that Russia is providing Iran with information on the locations of U.S. forces in the Middle East, he avoided a direct answer but said, "Russia is helping us through many different channels." However, he added regarding the specifics of that support, "I do not have detailed information."
Iran also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the cease-fire in the war that began with attacks by the United States and Israel.
Araghchi argued that the United States and Israel violated the cease-fire agreement reached after last June’s so-called "Twelve-Day War." He suggested Iran is prepared for a long war, saying, "We need a permanent end to the war. Unless we reach that point, we will have to continue fighting for our people and our security."
He also rejected remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had raised the possibility of deploying U.S. ground troops on the assumption that the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces would collapse. "At least for now, that is not the situation," Araghchi said, insisting, "For the time being, we have sufficient capability to conduct ground warfare ourselves."
On Iran’s missile capabilities, Araghchi claimed that Tehran has deliberately limited their range. "Iran has the capacity to produce missiles, but we have kept their range below 2,000 kilometers," he said. "There is no evidence that we are developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland," he explained.
He also acknowledged that Iran has attacked U.S. bases during the war in neighboring countries. "Unfortunately, we are attacking U.S. bases, U.S. facilities and U.S. assets located on the territory of our neighboring countries," he said.
At the same time, he highlighted U.S. responsibility by claiming that, in the early stages of U.S. and Israeli attacks, a girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan Province, was bombed, killing more than 100 people.
Regarding controversy over Donald Trump allegedly trying to influence the selection of a successor to the late Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Araghchi added, "Choosing a new leader is a matter for the Iranian people."
km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter