Why was Iran absent from close ally Russia's victory parade? 'Putin thanked North Korea but...'

Russia and Iran are said to be close allies, with the latter even supplying weapons to Russia's war against Ukraine. However, Iran's absence in Russia's Victory Day celebration, where Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen in prominence, has raised questions in Tehran. 

 

Many Iranian hardline newspapers questioned the absence of Iran's top leadership at the 80th anniversary Victory Day military parade, at a time when Tehran is engaged in nuclear talks with the US. 

 

"Despite Putin’s boasts of friendship with Iran, Iran was missing from the ceremony where he thanked North Korean soldiers for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine," a Tehran-based newspaper wrote.

 

That too, when, more than two dozen world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s top military officials, attended the event alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were invited for the parade, both opted out due to the escalation of India's conflict with Pakistan. 

 

But the absence of Iranian top leadership raised eyebrows. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were notably absent, even top leadership kept away from the event. Earlier, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, told TASS he would attend the event in his diplomatic capacity, but remained non-committal about the participation by senior Iranian officials. 

 

But that did not stop Russia from displaying Iranian drones during the parade, a celebrated event held as part of the Victory Day. On display was the Iranian-designed Shahed-136, which is renamed 'Geran-2' in Russia. It was also the first time that Kremlin publicly acknowledged its use of Iranian drones.

 

Despite its absence, Iran is said to be in contact with Russia, updating it about the talks with the US. Russia has also positioned itself as a go-between and has aided the US in communicating with Iran on its nuclear programme.

Middle East