The Russians have been working on Iranian nuclear facilities and with Iranian scientists, and they still have control of the extensive networks that were built during the Soviet era. They don’t want nuclear weapons in another neighboring country, as China is more than enough to watch. There is historical animosity between Russia and Iran, and they compete in the energy market. Russia has no real reason to back Iran if they are moving towards nuclear weapons.

The Russians don’t see any reason for Iran to be a threat, so they assume that the moves against Iran have a different goal – Russia. Putin still thinks is Soviet/Cold War terms, and the Hedgemony has given him no reason to adjust his views.

Russia can’t be believe that the Hedgemony is ignoring them, which is essentially what has been going on. Their self-esteem won’t allow them to accept that their response to anything might be considered unimportant to the US.

Putin is definitely posturing for the home audience, but he and the Russian people do think this is a threat by the US directed against them. I’m not sure what the reaction would be if they told the Russians that the US is spending billions on an elaborate charade to justify Cheney’s desire to attack Iran. In this case I’m not sure that the truth is better than a lie.