Headlines
Russia says US attacked iran on false pretext, condemns call for iranians to seize power
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 4, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 4, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia accuses the U.S. and Israel of launching unjustified and pretextual attacks on Iran, dismissing Washington’s calls for regime change as cynical; Moscow reaffirms its strategic partnership with Tehran while highlighting limits due to the absence of a mutual defense clause.
Russia Slams US Over Iran, Condemns Calls for Regime Change as Cynical
Russia Accuses US of Using Iran Threat as Pretext for Regime Change
MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) - Russia accused the United States on Wednesday of using an imaginary threat from Iran as a pretext to overthrow its constitutional order, and said Washington's calls for Iranians to seize power from their leaders were cynical and inhumane.
Russian Foreign Ministry's Response
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the U.S. had used negotiations with Iran, which were taking place as recently as last week, as a cover to disguise a plan for regime change there.
Strategic Partnership Between Russia and Iran
Russia has a strategic partnership treaty with Iran and President Vladimir Putin has condemned what he called the cynical murder of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Saturday.
Zakharova's Statement on US and Israel Actions
"There is no doubt that the imaginary, invented Iranian threat, repeatedly stated over many years, was merely a pretext for the implementation of a long-cherished plan to violently overthrow the constitutional order of a sovereign state... that Washington and Tel Aviv dislike," Zakharova told reporters.
Criticism of Western Calls for Regime Change
Without mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump by name, Zakharova alluded to his call for Iranians to take power from the clerical leadership.
Condemnation of Western Rhetoric
"It is even more cynical and inhumane to hear calls for the Iranians to seize power, as the West says, when the West is literally tearing ripping these hands from the Iranians," she said.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editingh by Andrew Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia condemned the U.S.‑Israeli strikes on Iran as “preplanned and unprovoked aggression,” accusing them of using Iran’s nuclear program as a false pretext for regime change (apnews.com)
- •The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and Iran—signed January 17, 2025, and in force since October 2, 2025—deepens cooperation across defense, energy, finance, and technology, though it lacks a mutual defense obligation (tasnimnews.com)
- •Despite strong political support, Russia is effectively powerless to defend Iran militarily; its stance remains limited to condemnation and diplomatic mediation, even as it benefits economically from surging energy prices due to regional instability (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia says US attacked Iran on false pretext, condemns call for Iranians to seize power
1What accusation did Russia make against the United States concerning Iran?
Russia accused the US of using an imaginary threat from Iran as a pretext to attempt violent regime change in Iran.
2What did Russia say about US calls for Iranians to seize power?
Russia described the US calls for Iranians to seize power as cynical and inhumane.
3How did Russia characterize the murder of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
President Putin condemned the killing of Khamenei as a cynical act by the US and Israel.
4Did the US President's name get mentioned by Russia in the statement?
No, Russia did not mention US President Donald Trump by name but alluded to his stance.
5What is the nature of Russia's relationship with Iran?
Russia maintains a strategic partnership treaty with Iran.
