Iran stuck between anger, acceptance after Gaza ceasefire

DW-Oct16th2025

Russia is mediating between Iran and Israel while Donald Trump tries to remake the Middle East with the US-backed Gaza peace plan. The new reality leaves the Iranian regime with few options — and even fewer friends.

Israel is committed to “regulating” its relationship with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a summit in Tajikistan last week, citing confidential contacts with Israeli leaders.

“We are getting signals from the Israeli leadership asking us to convey to our Iranian friends that Israel… is not interested in any kind of confrontation,” Putin said.

Tehran, according to the Russian president, also wants to “work toward peace.” Putin also made a point that the Iranian regime “must not possess nuclear weapons.”

“Iranian media reports that Iran has purchased Russian Su-35 fighter jets. If Russia actually delivers them despite the war in Ukraine, it would be a signal of support for Tehran,” he told DW.

“It is possible that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is attempting to convince Moscow not to send the jets and has therefore stated that he doesn’t want to attack Iran,” said Mahmoudian, who currently serves as a lecturer at the University of South Florida.

At the same time, Mahmoudian remains uncertain as to whether Netanyahu intends to “play tactical games” with the Kremlin chief.

“They’ve known each other for years, and Bibi himself, in his memoirs, says you should be direct when dealing with Putin,” he said, using a popular nickname for Netanyahu.

War with Israel exposed Iran’s weakness

Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat. Tehran does not recognize Israel and regularly threatens to destroy it.

The 12-day war between the two countries this June has laid bare the weaknesses of the Iranian air force and its defenses as Israel reached numerous targets inside Iran. The fighting ended with the US bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Appearing in the Knesset — the Israeli parliament — this week, US President Donald Trump urged the Iranian regime to change course.

“There’s nothing that would do more good for this part of the world than for Iran’s leaders to renounce terrorists, stop threatening their neighbors, quit funding their militant proxies and finally recognize Israel’s right to exist,” he told Israeli lawmakers.

“I’m telling you, they want to make a deal,” he added.

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