Russian-Iranian Relations: A Mixed Bag
By Eugene Kogan, Tbilisi-based defence and security expert
The declaration that Russia and Iran are strategic partners lacks both solid foundation and strategic perspective.
Despite the sense of urgency generated by regional and global concerns, Russia and Iran have failed to establish broad-based economic, scientific, technical, educational and societal ties. In terms of arms exports, Russia still sees Iran as a customer, while Iran is doing its best to distance itself from Russia and to become self-reliant; Iran has recently turned to China in order to diversify its weapons imports away from Russia. Whether this divergence will continue remains to be seen. READ MORE
| Security | Russia, Ukraine, Belarus
