Retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot Matthew “Whiz” Buckley has argued that Russia’s support for Iran is a key factor prolonging the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Buckley alleged that Iran has received Russian intelligence and military support, claiming the accuracy of recent attacks on U.S. military facilities in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait suggested external assistance.
Drawing a comparison with U.S. intelligence support for Ukraine, Buckley said Russia was playing a similar role in assisting Tehran. He argued that Moscow has significant influence over the duration of the conflict.
“If Vladimir Putin said, ‘No more weapons, you’re done,’ this thing would end a lot quicker than it is,” Buckley said, while acknowledging that he did not expect the Russian president to take such a step.
Buckley maintained that Iran’s military capabilities would be significantly weakened without Russian support, making it more difficult for Tehran to sustain the conflict. His comments came as tensions continued to escalate amid ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran and an increased American military presence across the region.
