Russia unlikely to intervene in Iran unrest due to reputation concerns

Russia’s Embassy Informs Kremlin of Iran Protests’ Decline

The Russian embassy in Tehran has reportedly informed Moscow that mass protests in Iran have subsided, according to Nikita Smagin, a former Russian diplomat and expert on Iran. Smagin stated that the Iranian government has successfully suppressed domestic resistance to its rule.

Protests began on December 28, spreading to hundreds of cities and towns across the country, which has over 90 million people. Iranian law enforcement allegedly quelled the protests, possibly violently. According to Smagin, Russia believes that nothing threatens Iran from within.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned “illegal Western pressure” and accused unnamed external forces of attempting to destabilize and destroy the Islamic Republic. The ministry’s spokeswoman, Mariya Zakharova, claimed that foreign nations were using tactics similar to those employed during the “colour revolutions” in former Soviet nations.

US President Donald Trump had previously urged Iranians to take over institutions and claimed that US help was on its way. However, Russia has not commented on the protests, despite Trump’s threats being deemed “categorically unacceptable”.

Russia appears to be taking a cautious approach, similar to its response to the toppling of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The Kremlin was initially silent about the protests due to uncertainty over the Iranian government’s stability.

Analysts have pointed out that Russia interprets any protests against dictatorship as a result of external meddling. The term “colour revolutions” is often used by Moscow to describe popular uprisings, including the Arab Spring protests in Egypt and Libya.

Source: Al Jazeera