The prospect of another ally falling in the Middle East will be a worrying one for Moscow, particularly after it has seen other alliances collapse recently.

The threats from United States President Donald Trump to interfere in the Iranian protests are “categorically unacceptable”, Zakharova said, adding that the “decline in the artificially-instigated protests” may lead to stabilisation in Iran. On Tuesday, Trump urged Iranians to “take over institutions” and claimed that US “help is on its way”.

The Russian leader has not made any public statements on either the abduction of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela or the protests in Iran, two allied countries that are now under pressure from the US. He still prioritizes his relations with Washington and his ongoing offensive in Ukraine.

As protests rock Iran and Washington keeps up pressure, Tehran’s powerful partners appear willing to offer words, trade and limited assistance, but not the kind of military backing that could draw them into a wider war.

STRUGGLING Iranians have been offered a measly £5 a month to quell their dissent, amid speculation that the paranoid Ayatollah is making moves to flee to Moscow. The panicked regime has offered

Trump envoy tells UN ‘all options on the table’ as US aircraft carrier heads for region - Iran accuses US of 'direct involvement in steering unrest to violence'

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issues warning to U.S. in Russian on social media, signaling Tehran's growing alignment with Moscow amid nationwide protests.

Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, condemned in a conversation on Monday with a senior Iranian official what he described as a new attempt by foreign powers to interfere in Iran's internal affairs,