Iran-Russia cooperation is like duet of criminal accomplices

Moscow is looking for situational allies around the world, trying to win over everyone it can in the war with Ukraine. In this sense, Iran turned out to be a very convenient object, the geopolitical development of which should bring Putin, in addition to ‘kamikaze’ drones, also dividends from rapprochement with this regional state, which claims to be the leader of the entire Middle East. But not everything is as smooth here as the Kremlin would like. And this is already being gradually understood in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

So in the influential and one of the most widely circulated Iranian newspapers Donya-e -Eqtesad" (World of Economics) published an article by a young doctor of political science and international relations Puria Nabipur under the eloquent title: "Obstacles to establishing a strategic alliance between Tehran and Moscow." 

Dr. Nabipur begins his article as follows: "It is necessary to pay attention to the foreign policy doctrine and strategic culture of the two countries to understand the depth and scope of the strategic relations between Iran and Russia, which have always been full of ups and downs. Given the differences based on the strategic culture of Russia and Iran, Tehran should adjust its foreign policy and cooperation not from the point of view of an equal partner, but from the point of view of the ratio of costs and benefits and national interests."

“The rapid rapprochement of Russia with Iran does not mean that Moscow considers Tehran its equal partner. It's just that it now has a very limited opportunity to choose its supporters, and the anti-American mullah regime, among other things, is urgently needed by Putin not only for urgent arms supplies”

Here the author does not hide the fact that the current rapid rapprochement of Russia with Iran does not mean that Moscow considers Tehran its equal partner. It's just that it now has a very limited ability to choose its supporters, and the anti-American mullah regime, among other things, is urgently needed by Putin not only for urgent arms supplies.

Although, in his opinion: "Joint presence in regional organizations and institutions, economic activity, mutual strengthening of geo-economic position, cooperation and convergence are good opportunities. They can strengthen the fields of comprehensive cooperation and interaction and be a driving force for the development of political, economic and commercial exchanges between two friendly neighboring countries."

Despite the fact that relations between Moscow and Tehran are developing towards the creation of a deep-rooted anti-Western ideological alliance, the Iranian expert is well aware of the great obstacles that exist for the strategic alliance establishment between Iran and Russia.

After all, Puria Nabipur notes: "Based on the strategic culture of Russia, Moscow considers itself a shareholder of the international system. In this sense, Moscow shouldn't have strong competitors. Russia also uses the UN Security Council for its effective presence in managing and resolving regional and global crises as part of its great-power strategy. Russia's view of the international order stems from religious principles (orthodoxy) and nationalist discourses, and Russia's tendency towards territorial expansionism is one of the components of this country's nationalism. Russia's military doctrine is aggressive, so limiting its influence and interests is not and will not be acceptable to Moscow. The new naval doctrine focuses on the development of the Russian Navy's presence in the seas and oceans, especially in the North, Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas. It clearly outlines the borders of this country, including in the Arctic and the Black Sea."

It is difficult to disagree with all this, because Putin sees Russia as a superpower that is supposedly authorized to decide the fate of the world and has a “controlling stake” in international politics, which gives him every right to arbitrarily redraw the borders of other countries and force them to impose their own rules of the game. The Kremlin's imperial ambitions were seen even in Iran. Although Moscow's international isolation after its unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the destruction of diplomatic relations between Iran and the West and the suspension of negotiations with Tehran on the resumption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) (this treaty provided for Iran's refusal to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, including a ban on international oil trade) significantly deepened relations between the two countries.

"The common desire to change the existing world order and transfer dominance in world politics to non-Western countries has greatly united these two pariah states. They are ready to do anything to end the era of US dominance in international affairs and believe that the historical mission of Russia and Iran is to fight for the establishment of a multipolar world order”

The common desire to change the existing world order and transfer dominance in world politics to non-Western countries has greatly united these two pariah states. They are ready to do anything to end the era of the US dominance in international affairs and believe that the historical mission of Russia and Iran is to fight for the establishment of a multipolar world order.

Dr. Nabipur is convinced: "With the dominance of Eurasian attitudes in Russia's foreign policy apparatus and accordance with national interests, Russians have come to believe that they need the geopolitical and geo-economic potential of Iran as the center of the geopolitical spheres of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the gateway to the Middle East. Security and economic puzzle that meets the national and maximum interests of Russia, which will work with the completion of the construction of the International Transport Corridor "North-South" and Moscow's access to warm waters such as the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. After the formation of the government of President Ebrahim Raisi, the priority in foreign policy was the strategy of orientation to the East and especially the development of relations with neighboring countries. By a close approach to the regional and international environment, Russia and Iran have the opportunity to expand cooperation in the military and security spheres."

“Having voluntarily assumed the role of "Moscow's geopolitical servant," Tehran recklessly opens the gates to new opportunities in the Middle and the Near East, which pose a great danger to Iran itself”

Having voluntarily assumed the role of "Moscow's geopolitical henchman," Tehran recklessly opens the gates to new opportunities in the Middle and the Near East, which pose a great danger to Iran itself. If the mullah regime thinks that mass deliveries of drones to Russia, which it uses to kill civilians in Ukraine, will go unpunished for it, then they are very wrong. By supplying weapons to Moscow, they are indirectly involved in its war in Ukraine. So, they will share with it the responsibility for all the suffering that this terrible war brought to the Ukrainian people.

Iran's sharp rapprochement with Russia is more like complicity in the crimes of criminal accomplices, rather than the cooperation of political partners. Although, as the author of the article "Obstacles to establishing a strategic alliance between Tehran and Moscow" states: "Moscow and Tehran, despite different policies and approaches that may lead to disagreements between the two sides after the end of their confrontation with the West, have the same security and geopolitical interests in dealing with common threats now. including cooperation in the field of defense, security and transactions. In the region, Iran is also strengthening Moscow's political and military presence on the coasts of Syria, Lebanon and Yemen at the level of ground forces and strategic and cultural influence."

The fact is that the main factor in rapprochement between Russia and Iran is "confrontation with the West" and attempts to preserve the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria at all costs. Iran understands the limits of Russia's relations with Iran. So Puria Nabipur emphasizes: "Russia traditionally has a self-serving and aggressive approach. Iran's concerns, including the unpredictability of Russia's interaction with the West, Iran's historical distrust of Russia, and the bitter experience of colonial interference in life in Iran, which dates back to the historical memory of Iranians, are among the factors that have influenced decision-making in Iran's foreign policy. The ups and downs in relations between Tehran and Moscow make it virtually impossible to create a strategic alliance."

“The historical memory of the Iranians" still preserves the consequences of defeats in wars with Russia, which each time took and appropriated the territories of other peoples occupied by the Persians. The then leaders of Persia couldn't use international competition in the national interests of their state. What was used in Moscow then”

And that's an understatement. Since "the historical memory of the Iranians" still preserves the consequences of defeats in wars with Russia, which each time took and appropriated the territories of other peoples occupied by the Persians. The then leaders of Persia couldn't use international competition in the national interests of their state. What was used in Moscow then. Iran is well aware of the expansionist lessons of agreements with Russia and is well aware of what a "strategic alliance" can be with Russia when Moscow never adheres to its previous obligations with anyone. So why will it comply with the agreements with Iran?

Here, Dr. Nabipur openly points out the danger that Moscow poses to his country: "From the point of view of Russia's national security, a nuclear Iran without sanctions can be considered a threat to Russia's interests. Russians are very concerned about the possibility of transformation and change in relations between Iran and America. Moscow benefits greatly from the conflict between the two countries, which ensures its interests, and will not want to lose these benefits. The controversial decisions made before the JCPOA talks and the activation of Russians were the most obvious reflection of Moscow's sensitivity to the issue of Iran's nuclear strengthening."

The Iranian expert states: "Also, one of the infrastructure problems of the development of economic relations was the lack of a correct understanding of the mutual capabilities of the parties. Despite numerous meetings between the two leaders and the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement, the implementation of the existing great potential for economic and technical cooperation, trade and commercial exchange between Iran and Russia remains at a rather low level. At the same time, the trade balance has huge distortions in favor of Russia, and economic cooperation between the two countries does not expand in accordance with the level of political cooperation."

“Iranian Shahed ‘kamikaze’ drones are tools for destroying Ukraine. Unprecedented attempts to destroy energy and heating facilities in Ukraine with Iranian drones mean that today Iran has become a sponsor of Russian terrorism”

But the military cooperation of Russia with Iran is increasingly deepening. Iranian Shahed ‘kamikaze’ drones are tools for destroying Ukraine. Unprecedented attempts to destroy energy and heating facilities in Ukraine with Iranian drones mean that today Iran has become a sponsor of Russian terrorism. Iran, as well as Russia, is responsible for the numerous deaths of Ukrainians from Iranian drones and the use of these drones to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure to deprive millions of Ukrainians of electricity, heat and other vital utilities. Trying together with Russia to organize a "Cold Terror-Famine" for Ukraine in the winter, Iran thereby recognizes its interest in eliminating the state of Ukraine.

Tehran, with its ill-conceived cooperation with Russia, voluntarily plunged itself into "dark times", because after Moscow loses in the war with Ukraine, it will also be a loss to Iran. And he, together with Russia and Belarus, will have to pay reparations to Ukraine for all losses caused.

This should be conveyed through diplomatic channels to the top Iranian leadership. So that they finally begin to understand that friendship with Moscow and games of “big geopolitics” will eventually have a very high price for Iran. 

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About the author. Viktor Kaspruk, journalist

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by blogs’ authors.