Fresh Narrative on Iran and China’s Role in “Saving Putin”: MI6 Allegation

Richard Moore, the Chief of MI6, speaking at the British Consulate in Istanbul, asserted that countering Iran, Russia, and China is among the core priorities of the agency.

According to Rokna, while London continues its anti-Iranian measures—including its recent recourse to the “snapback” mechanism—Moore reiterated Britain’s hostile stance against Tehran. During his address in Istanbul yesterday, he leveled accusations against Russia’s conduct in Ukraine as well as Iran’s nuclear program.

Moore, who became head of MI6 in 2020 and is scheduled to step down on September 30 to be succeeded by Blaise Mettraux, commented on the war in Ukraine: “History warns us never to underestimate a nation fighting for its independence and survival. Greater powers than Russia have failed to subdue smaller nations such as Ukraine.”

He told Western audiences: “If we remain calm, Putin must face the reality that he has only one choice: either accept the risk of an economic and political crisis that threatens his own regime, or reach a reasonable settlement.”

The British spy chief then repeated Western claims of Iranian and Chinese assistance to Russia in the Ukraine conflict—claims that officials in Beijing and Tehran have repeatedly rejected as baseless. Moore alleged: “Without foreign support, Putin would have faced this choice much earlier. Yes, drones have come from Iran, in addition to troops and equipment from North Korea. China has consistently supported Russia, both diplomatically and with so-called dual-use goods—‘Made in China’ chemicals and electronic components that find their way into Russian missiles.”

Moore stressed that countering Iran, China, and Russia remains a central task for MI6. “While Russia continues to be one of MI6’s core missions, the other three priorities—China, Iran, and counterterrorism—also present enduring challenges,” he noted.

He further claimed: “Iran has played a significant role throughout my tenure. A nuclear-free Iran must remain a priority, and I hope the Iranian government can see that a prosperous and secure future lies in engagement and compromise—not in blindly pursuing a strategy that destabilizes its neighbors and sets it against much of the world.”