‘Even Google Couldn’t Find Russia’: Key US Senate Republican Mocks Putin For Abandoning Iran

Key US Republican Senator John N. Kennedy (R-LA) on Wednesday mocked the Kremlin and its top occupant, Vladimir Putin, for abandoning its major ally Iran amid the recent standoff with the West.

“Where is Russia? Where is President Putin? I ask that question in light of what’s been happening over the past week in Iran,” Kennedy said in remarks on the Senate floor highlighting last week’s US and Israeli operations targeting Iran’s nuclear sites.

“All of a sudden even Google can’t find Russia. I thought Iran and Russia were peeps. I thought they were best friends,” he said.

Kennedy highlighted that for decades, Iran and Russia have had a partnership where they have attacked – as he put it – “everyone in the freedom-loving West.”

“They’re best buds. ...I know Iran has a relationship with China, but that’s more transactional. China just likes to buy Iran’s cheap oil. With Russia and Iran, it was supposed to be a deeper, more meaningful relationship,” he said.

He then added: “I remember when Putin invaded Ukraine, one of the first allies he turned to was Iran, and Iran sent Russia ammunition. And Iran sent Russia artillery shells. And Iran sent Russia drones. And Iran has sent Russia drones, ammunition, and artillery shells every single day of the war.”

Partly due to its war in Ukraine, Moscow has shown little urgency in propping up Iran in its confrontation with Israel and the US, despite Tehran having proved to be an important partner to the Kremlin following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Other Topics of Interest

Zelensky Reveals Intercepted Intel from Putin’s Desk

President Volodymyr Zelensky has declassified intercepted Russian intelligence forecasts that indicate a deepening domestic crisis for the Kremlin. The internal documents, originally prepared for Vladimir Putin’s desk, project that by the Sept. 20 State Duma elections, public disapproval of the Russian leader will steadily climb to at least 33%. Simultaneously, support for the ruling United Russia party is plummeting, sparking a surge in regional protest sentiment.

In addition to supplying thousands of combat drones used to strike Ukrainian cities, Iran also had sent instructors to Russia to help set up a drone production facility, based on Iranian Shahed UAV designs, deep in the Ural mountains.

Early this year, Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a wide-ranging “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” aimed at strengthening military cooperation and intelligence sharing.

Kennedy recalled that this Monday, Iran’s top diplomat met with Putin in Moscow and asked for help.

“Do you know what President Putin said he would provide? Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Some kind of friend,” the Senator said.

When Israel took out the better part of Iran’s air defense system, its golden dome, Tehran turned to Russia for air defense missiles. “President Putin said ‘go away. Don’t bother me.’ What a friend.” Kennedy said.

He added that it’s “not the first time that we’ve seen President Putin’s true colors.”

He elaborated: “It’s happened before. You would think that Iran would learn. The month after Iran through Hamas attacked Israel back in October of 2023, Iran immediately asked Moscow to supply Iran with military equipment– because Iran knew what was coming and so did Hamas— they knew retribution was coming from Israel.

“Iran asked Moscow for jet fighters, for attack helicopters, air defense systems, and training jets. And Iran was sure that their buddy, Putin, would be there. Putin sent them a few jets and said ‘go away, don’t bother me.’”

Kennedy also recalled that Putin had abandoned Syria’s toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad, whom, he said, “Iran and Russia had worked together to prop up.”

“When the people of Syria were revolting against Assad, who had blood under his fingernails. Do you know who kept him afloat? Iran, yes, but especially Russia. And then Assad got in trouble, and that’s when he really needed Russia. He went to Mr. Putin and said help me, help me, and Mr. Putin said, ‘No. You’re on your own,’” the Senator added.

Moscow’s betrayal was “very, very predictable,” Kennedy emphasized. “With friends like Russia, who needs enemies?” he asked.

Kennedy concluded: “A lot’s going on with respect to the Middle East right now, but I hope the world notices what kind of friend Russia is. I hope other countries that Russia has alliances with and that Russia is assiduously courting to be a ‘partnership’ notice how Russia reacts to their friends.”