Iran hasn't asked Moscow for military assistance during its conflict with Israel, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. He said that the strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Tehran doesn't cover such military help.

Russian officials caution that U.S. direct military support for Israel risks triggering wider instability across the Middle East.

Analysts say the Kremlin is prioritizing its own war against Ukraine, as well as its relations with Gulf nations that don’t want to see a stronger Iran.