Embassy in Iran Embassy ● Roster captured

The Insider reported on March 27th that “until recently, GRU lieutenant colonel Yuli Deryabin advised his Iranian counterparts on the use of Russian radar stations, helping identify vulnerabilities in Tehran’s air defense system. But despite Deryabin’s assistance, Israeli and U.S. strikes were able to destroy 90% of Iran’s air defense systems on the very first day of their ongoing campaign, leaving the attaché out of a job. Against the backdrop of a major war in the region, Lt. Col. Deryabin is now facing another threat — he risks losing his colony of rare ants, which he was unable to evacuate from the Russian Embassy in Tehran. On Feb. 18, 2026, the Russian and Iranian navies held joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman. On the Russian side, the Baltic Fleet corvette Stoikiy and its accompanying tanker Yelnya took part in the after previously visiting the Omani port of Muscat. On the Iranian side were the frigate Alvand, the missile boat Neyze, and the corvette Shahid Sayyad Shirazi. (A Chinese squadron was also expected to arrive in the Gulf, but Beijing pulled out of the exercises at the last moment.) According to the official account put out by Russia’s Defense Ministry, Iranian and Russian sailors jointly ran drills focused on communications and ensuring the safety of civilian shipping. In reality, the exercises rehearsed possible scenarios for blocking sea lanes and attacking a mock enemy.”