7. Russia’s Growing Relationship with Iran: Strategic or Tactical?

Russian–Iranian relations are rooted in a troubled past that continues to haunt their contemporary ties. Neither trusts the other, and misunderstandings abound. They have a common interest in their mutual hostility towards the US. But there is a fundamental mismatch in their perspectives. Russia’s is global while Iran’s is regional, and Moscow has shown repeatedly that it is prepared to break undertakings to Iran when larger benefits to Russia are on offer. Moreover, Russia has other Middle East partners it is wooing. Russia and Iran can work well together when they have the same objective—as now in Syria. But as their interests change, the incentives to maintain these close ties will diminish. This is a tactical, not a strategic, relationship.