Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and warned of risks to Russian personnel and possible spillover into the Caspian basin during a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Interfax reported on March 23.

Since the start of the Iran war, Russia has reportedly shared intelligence with Iran, including targeting data on U.S. military assets in the region and drone-related technology. On March 18, Israeli strikes targeted the Iranian port of Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea, hitting logistics infrastructure, including reported damage to warehouses, naval facilities and vessels linked to Iranian, Russian and Chinese supply networks. The Caspian corridor is important for both Iran and Russia as a route for trade, sanctions evasion and military cooperation, including past transfers of drones and missiles.