Russia’s war on Ukraine has exposed just how much Tehran has tilted toward Moscow in recent years as the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers stoked decades-old, hard-line anger at America.

Iran’s state-controlled television network, whose English-language service Press TV describes itself as “the voice of the voiceless,” hews close to Russian talking points.

Part of the Iranian government’s anger at Ukraine likely stems from the aftermath of the Guard’s 2020 shooting down of an Ukrainian airliner, which killed 176 people on board. Tehran denied for days it shot down the plane until pressure from Ukraine forced it to admit the downing.

“In the case of the airplane, Ukraine misbehaved against us and misused it in support to the U.S.,” said a high-ranking Iranian religious leader during prayers last week.