Russian-Iranian Relations: Impact on Persian Gulf Interests

Russia’s political maneuverings with Iran have been inconsistent, wavering between cooperation and conflict. This incongruity has left the debate over Iran’s role in Russia’s regional calculus widely contested. However, as substantiated in this chapter, Moscow and Tehran’s strategic differences do not impinge on their partnership. This chapter posits, that despite inconsistency in the partnership, Russian-Iranian alignment is likely to be an enduring feature of the Middle Eastern political landscape. Their different approaches to interacting with the key actors on the Arabian Peninsula demonstrates the adaptability and dynamism of this partnership. We argue that while these two states often collide in different conflict zones, and in their engagements with regional state actors, they share a similar narrative of the international order, which cements their partnerships.