"Putin is Betting on a Losing Horse (As In Iran)" Topic

"The Russian-Iranian alliance, a defining feature of power politics in the Middle East, is experiencing strains that should be exploited by the Trump administration. Moscow and Tehran are historic enemies whose differences are re-emerging now that they have achieved their mutual objective of preventing a breakdown of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. Vladimir Putin's assessment of Russian interests may be clouded by anti-Americanism, but he ought to see that Islamic Republic is far weaker and a far less valuable ally than it was just five years ago. Thus, Russia has far more to lose than it has to gain by employing its Security Council veto to protect the Iranian regime from Washington's maximum pressure campaign.

By working together to ensure the survival of the Assad regime, Russia has arguably become the paramount foreign power in the Levant, while the Islamic Republic has carved a corridor of influence stretching from Iraq to Lebanon. Yet Russia and Iran may be beginning to see each other as competitors now that Assad's regime is more secure…"
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Amicalement
Armand

It's less about having a reliable ally, or allies, and more about both countries' geographic locations in strategic regions, and access to warm waters there, e.g. the port(s) in the Med., in Syria for Russia, and the potential access to that with Iran (and/or denial of that to others in the region – offsetting US naval power in the Arabian Gulf).

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand