The war in Iran has proven an obvious fact - the qualitative superiority of American and allied aviation over Russian systems.
Whatever the outcome of the current US attack on Iran, it has already achieved a strategic result - the regime has been beheaded. And the psychological consequences of this will be felt all over the world - and not least by the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This is what The Telegraph commentator, former officer of the regular British army Hamish de Breton-Gordon, wrote, quoted by Faktor.bg.
The superiority of American military power
The war in Iran has proven an obvious fact - the qualitative superiority of American and allied aviation over Russian systems. The Russian-supplied S-300 batteries deployed by Iran are now piles of twisted metal.
Moscow's defenses are better - it has not only the S-400, but also the advanced S-500 systems. However, the Russian armed forces have critical weaknesses - in particular, a shortage of A-50 radar aircraft, vital for detecting low-flying threats such as drones and cruise missiles.
“As for the vaunted S-500s - another point confirmed during the war in Ukraine is the exaggerated nature of Russia's claims to possess modern weapons,” the expert notes.
The lesson for Russia
The question arises whether the current strikes against Iran pursue more than one goal. "There may be a certain sequence in Washington's thinking: Venezuela, then Iran, and finally - the Kremlin. The psychological effect of the demonstrated force often turns out to be more powerful than the force itself," the analyst points out.
Putin has been delaying peace talks and his strategic goals in Ukraine have not changed since the beginning of the invasion. But recent events may make him think twice, Breton-Gordon believes.
"An American commander-in-chief demonstrating a readiness to use overwhelming military power is a very different thing from one who only threatens it," he emphasizes.
Implications for Ukraine
The US actions also have direct consequences for the war in Ukraine. Iran has long supplied Russia with critical equipment - especially drones and ammunition. If this supply chain is disrupted or destroyed, Moscow’s military effort will suffer.
Most importantly, if Washington’s message to Tehran is that the window for negotiations has closed, the echoes in the Kremlin will be obvious. Putin will now have to consider whether procrastination remains a viable strategy – or whether time is no longer his ally:
“Attempts to freeze the conflict in Ukraine are likely to intensify significantly. The pressure on Putin himself is already, at best, uncomfortable – given Maduro’s takeover and Khamenei’s death. Continuing the war is no longer about sending young soldiers to their deaths: Putin himself is in danger."
Russia and the Iran War
Earlier, American officials told reporters on condition of anonymity that Russia could be passing intelligence to Iran that could be used to launch attacks on American troops and US facilities in the Middle East.
The US President's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that Washington had warned Moscow that the transfer of intelligence to Iran was unacceptable, and that he had personally conveyed this warning to the Russian side.