How Russia helped build Iran into a strategic partner against the West - analysis

Analysis of the evolving Russia-Iran partnership, tracing its roots from the 1990s to the present. The article highlights how Moscow supported Tehran's missile and nuclear programs, cooperation in Syria, and the strategic alignment against US hegemony. Recent Ukrainian accusations of Russian satellite surveillance for Iran and Iranian drone supplies to Russia underscore the deepening ties.

This analysis traces the evolution of the Russia-Iran strategic partnership from the 1990s to the present. It notes that after the Soviet collapse, Russia began supporting Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities, including completing the Bushehr nuclear power plant via Rosatom. The relationship deepened in Syria, where Russia and Iran coordinated militarily. The article highlights recent Ukrainian accusations: President Zelensky claimed Russia provided satellite surveillance of Gulf states and US facilities for Iran, while Ukraine struck ships in the Caspian Sea allegedly used for Iranian military cargo. Iran supplied Russia with Shahed drones used in Ukraine, though the article notes they have not turned the war. The broader context is a shared goal of weakening US hegemony, with Russia, Iran, and China seeking a multi-polar world order. The article also recalls Russia's role in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, where Moscow acted as both a strategic competitor and diplomatic partner to Washington.