(Moscow) – Pro-war Russian propagandist Sergey Mardan has openly called for Russia to forge a closer alliance with Iran, boost its nuclear capabilities, and actively support Israel’s enemies in the Middle East. Mardan, a regular voice on Russian state media, made these comments during a recent broadcast that showcased the Russian dictatorship’s expanding hostility toward Western-aligned states.
Mardan stated that Russia “must help Iran” by supplying it with “technologies,” including those for nuclear development. He claimed that international politics are as simple as identifying your enemies and aligning against them. In his view, because the United States is Russia’s enemy and Israel is a close ally of the United States, then Israel is Russia’s enemy by default.
He made clear that Russia has “no illusions” about its stance on Israel, stating, “Of course, we are enemies,” and further suggested that Russia should be actively working toward Israel’s “weakening.” He advocated for providing support to Israel’s adversaries as part of this strategy.
Describing diplomacy in grim and threatening terms, Mardan claimed that international relations should be built solely on “mutual fear and benefit.” He chillingly encouraged the idea that Russian pressure — direct or indirect — should be applied to both Israeli and American politicians to ensure they “choose the right side” in the conflicts that concern Russia. His statement ended with an ominous note, warning that those who side against Russia will regret it.
While this aggressive rhetoric might be dismissed as propaganda, it closely mirrors recent Kremlin foreign policy actions, including Moscow’s growing military and technological cooperation with Tehran, which has led to shipments of Iranian drones used to target Ukrainian cities. These alliances pose serious global security threats, particularly in the nuclear domain.
In another segment from Russian state media, attention shifted to a disturbing case from Irkutsk, where a female blogger was arrested for allegedly insulting Russian forces involved in the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. The woman, a former flight attendant with a previous criminal record, had posted a video condemning the war and expressing a wish for the suffering of Russian soldiers and their families. She also criticised Russia Day, calling it a holiday that should not be celebrated.
After her video gained attention online, she reportedly shut down her social media accounts, but it was too late. Police arrived at her home, and footage from the arrest showed her in a visibly distressed state, overwhelmed by online threats and police presence. She was forcibly taken to a psychiatric facility, tested for drugs and alcohol, and then handed over to the Investigative Committee. Despite being urged to apologise, she refused, stating, “I have nothing to apologise for.”