Nikita Smagin
The rapprochement between Moscow and Washington that began after Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States has sparked hopes not only of an end to the war in Ukraine, but also that it could shape the outcome of long-running diplomatic issues. Iran has been watching developments with particular unease, worrying that it could become a bargaining chip in the diplomatic back-and-forth between Moscow and Washington.
The recent telephone conversation between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin only added to Tehran’s misgivings. Most concerning for Tehran was the White House’s statement that Putin and Trump “shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.” Given that an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear program seems closer than ever, this could be read as Moscow’s willingness to sacrifice Tehran for the greater goal of restoring ties with Washington. But is there any truth to this?
There’s nothing new in suspicions between Russia and Iran: indeed, wariness of Moscow’s intentions has long been widespread among both the Iranian elite and broader society. The reasons are myriad: they include the military interventions by the Russian Empire and Soviet Union in Iran and, more recently, Moscow’s refusal to vote against United Nations resolutions on Iran’s nuclear program. So there’s nothing particularly surprising about Iranian fears that Moscow will try to sell them out.
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