If anyone was worried that Russia was going to intervene on behalf of its ally Iran in the new Middle East conflict, they need not be.

Vladimir Putin's response to the massive U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran — and even the Israeli strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's longtime Supreme Leader — was at best bland. He called the U.S. and Israeli strikes "cynical" and murderous, but issued neither threats, nor red lines, nor commitments to help Iran.

To understand Putin's restraint, consider his larger strategy.

Russian leader sees no benefit to a futile challenge to the U.S. or Israeli militaries. And he has other priorities. This is not to say that there aren't clear advantages to Putin's patience. The ongoing crisis presents opportunities we know he will try to exploit.

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