30.03.2026 14:00
Today marked a first in the war that has been ongoing with full force for 31 days. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bakayi stated that the positions of Russia and China regarding the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran will affect future relations. Bakayi said, "We are monitoring the positions of countries, and it is certain that their approaches will have a reciprocal impact on our policy. Remaining indifferent to this war will have consequences for everyone."
A striking diplomatic warning came from the Tehran administration under the shadow of the ongoing war between the US-Israel and Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bekayi stated that the positions of countries, especially Russia and China, regarding the war will directly affect Tehran's future foreign policy and bilateral relations. Bekayi said, “We are monitoring the positions of countries, and their approaches will definitely create a mutual impact on our policy,” conveying the message that remaining silent in the war will not be without consequences.
“INDIFFERENCE WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR EVERYONE” The most striking statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman was, “Indifference to this war will have consequences for everyone.” This statement showed that Tehran is applying indirect pressure not only on the West but also on the capitals it considers close. The Iranian administration signals that it will evaluate the stance of international actors not only through diplomatic statements but also through concrete support on the ground and in the political arena since the beginning of the war.
TEHRAN'S EYES ON MOSCOW AND BEIJING Bekayi's statements brought comments that despite Russia and China's critical stance towards US-Israel attacks since the first days of the war, Iran may not find this support sufficient. While Moscow described the attacks as “premeditated and unprovoked armed aggression,” Beijing found the military operations of the US and Israel “unacceptable” and called for an immediate halt to the attacks.
The problem from the Iranian side is whether this support will remain at the level of rhetoric. As Tehran enters the second month of the war, it expects more visible diplomatic weight, stronger international pressure, and more concrete political support from Russia and China. Bekayi's words indicated that this expectation has now reached an open warning level. This is interpreted as a message suggesting that Iran may draw a sharper line between friends and foes in the post-war period.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bekayi NEW ACCOUNTS ON THE AGENDA AS CLOSENESS WITH RUSSIA DEEPENS The military and strategic closeness between Russia and Iran has recently become even more striking. Reports based on Western and European officials suggested that Moscow is preparing to provide advanced drones to Iran and that defense coordination between the two countries has increased. This scenario strengthened assessments that Moscow could provide support to Tehran not only diplomatically but also at a level that could influence the field. However, Iran's recent statement suggests that even the existing support is not considered sufficiently clear or strong from Tehran's perspective.
CLEAR WARNING TO CHINA AS WELL At the beginning of the war, China criticized the attacks and called for diplomacy, emphasizing that regional tensions should not escalate further. However, Iran's recent statement indicates that there is an expectation for Beijing to use its economic and diplomatic weight more clearly. It seems that if China only limits itself to making statements, Tehran will take note of this.
AS THE WAR DEEPENS, THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT IS ALSO HARDENING Iran's stance shows that the tension on the battlefield and the pressure at the diplomatic table are rising simultaneously. According to the latest compilations from AP, conflicts have spread to the region; while energy lines, Gulf security, and ceasefire initiatives remain on the agenda, Tehran is also closely monitoring which side international actors are on. Therefore, Bekayi's statement is seen not just as a momentary reaction but as an early warning about how post-war alliances will shape.
SUBTEXT FROM TEHRAN: THE PERIOD OF NEUTRALITY IS OVER The essence of the message from Iran is this: Tehran will now look at what countries do, not what they say. Although the statements of Russia and China have seemed favorable to Iran so far, Tehran may seek clearer, more visible, and costlier support in the upcoming process. Bekayi's words indicate that Iran may reorder its foreign relations after the war and may adopt a tone of reckoning with countries that remain indifferent or distant. This also suggests that the war has entered a new phase not only on the battlefield but also in diplomatic circles.
US-ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON IRAN While negotiations continue between Tehran and Washington, Israel and the US launched a military attack on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, where US bases are located, in addition to Israel. In the US-Israel attacks, many high-ranking officials, including former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, were killed.