Iran and Russia are opening multiple new areas of cooperation, with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian saying last month that the two sides are finalizing a “long-term strategic cooperation agreement”.
More than a year on from the beginning of the Ukraine war in February 2022, there is no more business as usual for Russia-Iran relations. While bilateral ties are still characterized by an intense focus on security and defense, the two sides are opening multiple new areas of cooperation as well. But what has motivated Moscow and Tehran to invest in strengthening their bilateral relations given all the potential risks and costs? Could conflicts of interest and competition put a crack in this burgeoning relationship? And what can the West do about it?
More than a year on from the beginning of the Ukraine war in February 2022, there is no more business as usual for Russia-Iran relations. While bilateral ties are still characterized by an intense focus on security and defense, the two sides are opening multiple new areas of cooperation as well. But what has motivated Moscow and Tehran to invest in strengthening their bilateral relations given all the potential risks and costs? Could conflicts of interest and competition put a crack in this burgeoning relationship? And what can the West do about it?
Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller was expected to arrive in Tehran on Tuesday to meet Iran’s oil and gas officials and discuss the future of cooperation between the two sides.
The Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline would be contrary to U.S.strategic interests, would destabilize the Persian Gulf, and wouldstrengthen Russia's grip over Central Asia, decreasing bothregional and global energy security. The U.S. should encourageIndia and Pakistan to pursue better alternatives, such asdeveloping their liquefied natural gas capacities and building theTurkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline.