Russia and Iran, the “friends and rivals” that the war and sanctions seem to bring closer

The message sent by the president of Russia, Vladimir Putinto the victims of the attack on a sacred site in the Iranian city of Shiraz last Wednesday was accompanied by a call to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in their fight against terrorism.

READ ALSO: The Islamic State claims responsibility for a terrorist attack that killed 15 in a Shiite mausoleum in Iran

An agency specialized in tracking terrorist activities, SITE Intelligence Group, reported that the Islamic State acknowledged that same night the authorship of the attack against the mausoleum of Shah Cheragh, the most revered Shiite shrine in southern Iran.

Due to the attack, 15 people died and another 40 were injured. Initially it was reported that it had been carried out by three terrorists, but later a local authority stated that “only one terrorist was involved in the attack”.

Since Tehranthe Iranian presidency blamed the “enemies of the country” of “sponsor and design this indiscriminate crime”, without detailing who he was referring to, Europa Press reported.

The Russian president’s message comes at a time when the two nations, which have historically had a fluctuating relationship, appear to be closer than ever, fueled by the war in Ukrainethe demonstrations in the Iranian streets and now the threat of the resurgence of the international terrorist group.

The terrorist attack against the mausoleum of Shah Cheragh, in the southern town of Shiraz, left 15 dead and 40 wounded. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. (MOHAMMADREZA DEHDARI / ISNA NEWS AGENCY / AFP /)

historical rough edges

In the past, relations between the Russians and the Iranians were marked by constant clashes.

“Iranians are very suspicious of Russia, because the Russians have a long history of meddling in their country’s affairs”, explained to the BBC Hamidreza Azizi, an expert in the relations between Iran Y Russia of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

The expert assures that during the 19th and 20th centuries, Iran it suffered from constant Russian attempts to control its territory and influence its politics and also highlights that the Islamic Revolution of 1979 had as one of its objectives to confront the then Soviet Union.

One of the goals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran was to confront the then Soviet Union. (GABRIEL DUVAL / AFP /)

Towards more recent times, both countries have coincided in the civil war in Syria, supporting the dictator Bashar al-Assad, although each motivated by controlling particular areas or determining the future of the country based on their interests.

On the other hand, both Russia What Iran They are energy exporters, so they maintain competition on issues such as the sale of gas produced in their territories.

The enemy of my enemy

“They have been very close for a long time. Both are allies of the Syrian Government and have intervened in the war in that country, Russia since 2015 and Iran since the beginning, back in 2011. In addition, let us remember that Moscow also participated in the negotiations for the Iranian nuclear program. As both have been sanctioned internationally they have become close and formed a good relationship”, he comments to Trade the international analyst Francisco Belaunde Matossian.

Indeed, Russia and Iran they share an uncomfortable position on the international stage becoming two of the most sanctioned countries in the world.

And it would be precisely this enmity with the West that could bring them closer than at any other time.

In 2007, Putin was the first Russian leader to visit Tehran since Iósif Stalin did it in 1943, details the BBC. Additionally, during this year marked by international sanctions against him, the Kremlin leader only traveled abroad five times.

All of these trips were made to former Soviet nations, except for one that was destined for Tehran in July.

The White House, for its part, warned on Wednesday the 26th that Russia It would be advising the Iranian government to quell the historic street protests that have been taking place for more than 40 days in the Islamic republic due to the death of the young Kurdish Masha Amini.

Ukraine and the United States have denounced that Russia used Iranian drones to bomb different Ukrainian cities during its invasion. Tehran and Moscow have denied these accusations. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/)

Tehranfor its part, would have provided the Russian Army with drones that were used to bomb different Ukrainian cities in the midst of its invasion, including kyiv.

Although Iran has denied having supplied war material to Russia For their campaign, the United States and Ukraine have denounced different shipments of drones and Iranian advice for their use in the war.

The UN is investigating whether the Russians actually used this type of weapon during their invasion.

“Putin would be taking advantage of the attack (in Iran) to formalize this alliance. Russia and Iran they deny having used drones in Ukraine, but we see that Putin has changed his justification for invading Ukraine, moving from an alleged ‘denazification’ to a fight against terrorism; that is, he labels the Ukrainians as terrorists. With a terrorist attack in Iran, what he says is that they are on the same side and that they can cooperate”, believes Belaunde Matossian.

With the economy of both countries depending mainly on the export of hydrocarbons, and the numerous international sanctions against them, it is not difficult to foresee that Russian-Iranian cooperation would be focused on other aspects, such as security and national defense.

“It is not very well known how far cooperation could go. But it has been said that Iran could sell missiles to Russia, in addition to the drones that both have denied. This could be a factor for Tehran to send those missiles to Moscow”, says the expert.

Source: Elcomercio