Ivana Stradner is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where she focuses on Russian security strategies and military doctrines. Emily Hester is an analyst at FDD focusing on Russian influence operations.
In the days after the US-Israel coordinated launch of Operation Epic Fury, the Kremlin launched a parallel campaign — not on the battlefield, but in the information space. Within a few hours, Moscow accused Washington of destabilizing the region and violating international law.
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has not offered Iran any specific support, his regime has used this opportunity to undermine the credibility of the United States and distract the world since Russia's war in Ukraine.
The pattern is known.
When geopolitical events threaten Moscow's strategic goal, the Kremlin positions itself as guardian of international standardsportraying Washington as reckless and destabilizing. Following the attacks on Iran's leadership, Putin publicly condemned the United States for its “cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.” The Russian Foreign Ministry then accused the US and Israel of “causing an artificial crisis.” Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Washington could trigger World War III.
The Kremlin gradually strengthened these statements.
In an article published by the Kremlin-sponsored RT station, Russian politician Yevgeny Primakov stated that “the unjustified aggression of the United States, carried out in the context of ongoing peace talks, sends a harmful signal: concessions are of little value“.
The Kremlin is seizing the moment
The information campaign has a clear goal. By accusing Washington of starting “the biggest regional war ever,” Moscow hopes to weaken Western unity and reduce support for Kiev.
This strategy only works if they exist cracks that can be made deeper – and that's what they are. Preliminary polls show that nearly six in 10 Americans oppose the Iranian operation. Although Republicans tend to be more supportive, polls have shown that many of them might withdraw their support if American soldiers were injured or killed. Four American soldiers were killed within two days of the operation.
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Support abroad is also mixed. Even U.S. allies such as France, Britain and Germany are calling on the United States and Iran to return to negotiations.
Putin doesn't have to invent divisions, he just needs to use the existing ones. RT is ready to do just that. It did not miss the opportunity to fuel polarization by asking the pointed question: “why are Americans killing and dying for Israel again?”
New weapon
Russian Telegram channels have also been active in the news space, openly discussing how attacks on Iran may serve Moscow's strategic interests. One prominent channel, Voyennyy Osvedomitiel (Military Informant), argued that the fewer PAC-3 missile interceptors and Patriot launchers Ukraine received, the more Russian ballistic missiles would penetrate Ukrainian defenses. The Russian channel “Rybar” repeated similar narratives.
Despite presenting Russia as a savior in the face of Western violence, the Kremlin's messages are frequent ambiguousin terms of real commitments to its struggling ally. Russian military analyst Andrei Ilnitsky warned against being “drawn into the vortex” a wider regional war and called on Moscow to “stay the course and continue its own strategic line.” Even Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that “membership in BRICS does not entail an obligation to provide assistance in the event of armed aggression.”
Faced with the prospect of costly escalation, Moscow has consistently decided to limit its aid. The United States should use this opportunity to counter the Kremlin's information offensive by reminding Putin's partners: With Russia on your side, you're treading on thin ice. Information operations are a low-cost, high-performance instrument in Putin's strategy. In contemporary conflicts, narrative is a weapon. The Kremlin understands this. The United States should understand this too.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
