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Putin Congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei — Pledges 'Unwavering Support for Tehran and Solidarity'

·Moscow / Tehran

Kremlin: Putin congratulates Mojtaba on appointment as Iran's new supreme leader. Confident he will continue his father's work 'with honor' and unite Iran 'in the face of severe trials.' Reaffirms Russia will 'continue to stand by Tehran' with 'unwavering support.' Russia-Iran axis formally confirmed at highest leadership level.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran's supreme leader, with the Kremlin releasing a statement confirming Putin's message. Putin expressed confidence that Mojtaba would continue his father's work 'with honor' and unite the Iranian people 'in the face of severe trials.' He added that Russia would continue to stand by Tehran, expressing his wish to 'confirm unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends.' The Putin congratulations formalise the Russia-Iran axis at the leadership level: Russia's president has directly recognised Mojtaba's authority, potentially constraining Western pressure on the succession. The 'unwavering support' language goes beyond diplomatic courtesy — it is a direct message to the US and Israel that Russia backs the Mojtaba-IRGC hardliner government's continuation of the war. Combined with China's statement opposing targeting of Mojtaba, the Russia-China-Iran bloc has now explicitly rallied around the new supreme leader in the first hours of his formal tenure.

Actor responses

RussiaSUPPORTINGOFFICIAL_STATEMENT

Putin to Mojtaba: confident you will continue your father's work with honor and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials. Russia will continue to stand by Tehran with unwavering support and solidarity.

United StatesOPPOSINGSTATEMENT

Putin's 'unwavering support' for Iran's hardliner succession bloc is noted. Russia has chosen its side. This changes nothing about Operation Epic Fury or our commitment to Israel's security.

Sources

T1Kremlin / Times of Israel95% reliability