Iran is a strategic partner to Russia, but Moscow isn't rushing to Tehran's aid in the face of Israeli strikes.

By Gleb Bryanski MOSCOW (Reuters) -Rising tensions in the Middle East will accelerate natural gas negotiations between Russia and China, with a decision likely this year, the head of a think-tank that advises the Russian government on China told Reuters.

As an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran last week sparks a spiraling conflict between the two enemy states, China has seen an opportunity to cast itself as potential peace broker – and an alternative voice to the United States.

Iran is finding itself in a difficult end game in its fight with Israel, with no calvary coming to support it. Israel now has control of the skies over Tehran, and public discussions on an attack

India broke with the rest of the group, led by Russia and China, in a balancing act. What were New Delhi’s compulsions?

With Moscow’s back to the wall in Ukraine, Tehran may soon see that its new ‘strategic partnership’ with the Kremlin is not much help.

Russia and Israel have built a close political, economic and cultural relationship that helped them tackle delicate and divisive issues, including developments in Syria.

Trump has said for days that Iran should make a nuclear deal with the U.S. But his message became more dire as he warned the Iranian capital's roughly 10 million residents to flee in the dead of night.