Power Couple: Russian-Iranian alignment In the Middle East

Russia and Iran often clash on the regional stage. Yet, their partnership endures and their power in the Middle East is growing. What is the basis of the Moscow-Tehran relationship? What are the ambitions of these states in the region? Do Moscow and Tehran have an ‘alliance’, ‘alignment’ or a ‘coalition’?

This book assesses how Moscow and Tehran have built their strategic partnership. Ghoncheh Tazmini argues for a Russia-Iran ‘alignment’, which is based on their shared narratives of the international order. She shows that to counteract US unilateralism, and with both states feeling internationally isolated, the Kremlin needs Tehran as much as Tehran needs the Kremlin. Yet it is well known that these states’ conflicting agendas and asymmetries create areas of tension especially concerning divergent interests in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and the GCC.

Based on primary Persian sources and interviews with stakeholders, Tazmini explains why Moscow-Tehran relations are a lot more durable than many in the West and the Middle East may believe. Given the US’s decision to narrow its scope of engagement in the Middle East, and new security concerns posed by Russia as key actor in the region, this analysis will be vital for assessing the implications of the Moscow-Tehran alignment.