This was reported on Espreso TV by Ihor Semivolos, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.“I can confirm the reports from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence that relations between Iran and Russia have worsened and continue to deteriorate. If we talk about the shift in attitudes, it did not start today but at least a year ago. This was already evident in the statements of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian, who spoke about the need to reconsider relations with the Russian Federation. Iran’s previous president, Ebrahim Raisi, did a lot to bring the country closer to Russia,” Semivolos explained.The expert noted that relations between Iran and Russia began to sour in the autumn of 2024. At that time, Russia was not prepared to assist Iran in its confrontation with Israel, and Tehran refused to recognize the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.“Later, in the fall of last year, it became clear that neither Iran was willing to recognize the Ukrainian territories seized by Russia, nor was Russia ready to provide protection to Iran — and this led to further mutual disappointment. Now, according to information cited by Ukrainian intelligence, Iran has launched an investigation into allegations that Russia handed over to Israel the specifications, locations, and other critical details about secret Iranian facilities and air defense systems. In other words, the Iranians are now directly accusing the Russians of betrayal,” Semivolos concluded.On August 14, Ukrainian forces struck the port of Olya and a ship loaded with Shahed drone components in Russia’s Astrakhan region.