Podcast host Alex Gabuev is joined by Nicole Grajewski, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Hanna Notte, director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center, to unpack the sudden fall of Assad’s regime and what it means for Russia to lose its stronghold in the Middle East.
Reform-minded voters in Iran oppose close cooperation with Russia and would like to see their country normalize relations with the West.
There are so many economic, political, and military factors pulling Moscow and Tehran closer together that individuals are almost irrelevant.
We appear to be witnessing the emergence of a united front against Washington that extends from the Baltic Sea to the Persian Gulf.
Iran’s goal is to modernize its transport infrastructure using Russian money, and Moscow has little choice but to foot the bill.
It might seem that for Iran, the West’s attempt to isolate Russia is a good opportunity to fill the resulting market gaps. In practice, however, it only creates new problems.
The potential for cooperation in certain areas, like military technology, may look promising. But Iran cannot be counted upon to really help the Russian economy withstand the impact of sanctions.
