Russia cosying up with Iran

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 21 Jul 2019 by Alex Teddy
Iran and Russia share Tiyas Air Base in Syria. They are comrades in arms: fighting for Assad's government and fighting against ISIS. Russian aircraft have airlifted Iranian equipment to Syria.In June 2019 President Rouhani met Putin in Kyrgyzstan. This summit was the Shanghai Co-operation Organization Summit. The Shanghai Co-operation Organization is an informal anti-US alliance consisting of Russia, Iran and China. Russia's collaboration with the Iranians only goes so far. The Israelis have bombed Iranians in Syria on many occasions. But the Israelis have always taken care to avoid collateral damage to Russians. The Iranians in Syria are mainly the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps - Quds Force. The Iranians support Hezbollah - a Lebanese militia - in Syria. The Israelis regard Hezbollah as very dangerous. The Russians have deconflicted areas before Israeli strikes. The USSR and the British briefly occupied Iran during the Second World War. This is something that Iranians have not forgotten. With the rising tensions in the Gulf this all becomes more complicated. Moscow spoke out against the British impounding an Iranian oil tanker supposedly bound for Syria in breach of sanctions. Russia has not denounced Iran for seizing two British oil tankers. Russia does not care about Iran but Iran could be a useful ally against the US. Russia would be willing to stop assisting Iran if the United States made concessions on other matters. Conversely, if Moscow continues to find American behavior provocative then support to Iran could be increased.

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