Putin humiliates Trump as Russian President breaks silence on Iran’s new leader | World | News
Putin and Trump (Image: Getty)
Vladimir Putin congratulated Iran’s new religious leader in a statement that risked infuriating Donald Trump. The Russian leader sent a congratulatory message to Mojtaba Khamenei, who was elected as the Supreme Leader of Iran, and confirmed his continued support and solidarity with Tehran.
A statement published on the Kremlin’s website on Monday read: “Please accept my sincere congratulations on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At a time when Iran faces armed attack, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication. I am confident that you will honorably continue your father’s work and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials.” In the statement signed personally by Putin, he reiterated Russia’s “unwavering support” for Tehran and expressed solidarity with its “Iranian friends”. The leader confirmed that Russia is and will remain a “reliable partner of the Islamic Republic.”
Iran’s Assembly of Experts declared Mojtaba Khamenei the country’s new religious leader (Image: KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty Images)
Iranian The new Supreme Leader was elected on Sunday after his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike last week.
State media named his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader. After Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli operation, 56-year-old Mojtaba emerged as the favorite candidate to replace him.
He has strong ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which pressured the Assembly of Experts to elect him, Iran International reported.
Despite his connection to the military branch, he is not a senior cleric and has never held an official role in the regime. However, he served in the Iranian armed forces during the war with Israel.
The message of support came after reports that Russia was providing intelligence to Iran to help it strike US warships.
The country was accused of providing target information to Iran to strike US forces in the Middle East.
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Three officials familiar with the intelligence alleged that Moscow transmitted the locations of American military assets, including warships and aircraft, to Iran.
To talk Washington Post One of them, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “It seems like a pretty comprehensive effort.”
The Post reported that this was the first allegation that another major U.S. military rival had joined the conflict, but Russia’s assistance, if any, was not entirely clear.
China, which is also a strong supporter of Iran, does not appear to be helping Tehran defend itself, according to two officials.
Previously, Russia described the military action against Iran as an “act of unprovoked armed aggression” and called for it to end.
US President Donald Trump He scolded a reporter for raising the possibility of Russian involvement at a White House meeting about how paying student-athletes are recalibrating college sports, adding: “What a stupid question to be asking right now. We’re talking about something else.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also said Russian intelligence “clearly does not make a difference in terms of military operations in Iran because we are completely dismantling them.”
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