Dr. Amir Hooshang Mirkooshesh – Editor-in-Chief  and

Managing Director and Publishesr of the Iranian Journal of International Relations

Anti-Iran Positions Among Russian Elites

The views of Russian elites on Iran and Israel, especially in recent years and particularly during regional tensions and wars, generally combine geopolitical, ideological, and realist analyses.

• Alexander Dugin, the well-known Russian philosopher and theorist whose ideas influence certain circles of power in Russia, sees Iran as an actor that sometimes destabilizes the region through ideological and revolutionary approaches. He believes that the policies of the Islamic Republic have, at times, harmed Russia’s interests in the region. Although Dugin holds anti-Western views, he recognizes Israel as an important regional player with which Russia must engage pragmatically. He has even, on some occasions, warned against Iran aligning too closely with Western powers. Dugin adopts a balance-of-power and interest-based approach, viewing Iran as a tactical, not strategic, partner.
• Sergey Karaganov, strategist and foreign policy adviser whose opinions carry weight in the Russian government, regards Iran as an important regional actor but believes Tehran should moderate its behavior so as not to jeopardize Russia’s regional interests. He has criticized Iran’s aggressive policies in Syria and Yemen. Karaganov sees Israel as an unofficial ally of Russia in the region, sharing common interests in curbing U.S. and Western influence. He has referred to covert interactions and military-intelligence cooperation between Russia and Israel.
• Mikhail Bogdanov, diplomat and Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia in charge of Middle East and North Africa affairs, affirms the historic and strategic relationship with Iran but has urged Iran to show more flexibility in its regional policies. He has also stressed that Russia considers maintaining diplomatic channels with Israel essential for managing regional crises.

5. Other Hostile or Non-Supportive Actions by Russia

• Reduction of Iran’s share in the Caspian Sea: In the 2018 Caspian Sea Legal Regime Convention, Russia, along with other littoral states, effectively reduced Iran’s share to below 13%, without guaranteeing Iran’s historical rights.
• The Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the Zangezur Corridor: Russia remained silent on the plan by Turkey and Azerbaijan to create the Zangezur Corridor, which poses a threat to Iran’s territorial integrity, thereby shifting the regional geopolitical balance to Iran’s detriment.
• The three islands and Russia’s tacit support for the UAE: In the dispute over Iran’s three islands, Russia, while maintaining official relations with Tehran, has taken positions favorable to the UAE’s claims. This tacit support includes avoiding strong opposition to the UAE’s initiatives in international forums and deepening economic and military ties with Abu Dhabi. This approach reflects Russia’s two-faced policy to exploit regional rivalries and expand its influence in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, extensive Russia–UAE cooperation in energy and regional security has, in practice, increased pressure on Tehran. Overall, by implicitly supporting the UAE, Russia has weakened Iran’s position on the three islands issue.

6 – Iran’s Strategic Mistake in Supporting Russia in the Ukraine War

Military and Technological Support to Russia
According to credible international reports, Iran has provided Russia with Shahed drones and other equipment. This action has been met with strong reactions from Europe and the United States, resulting in new sanctions against Iran.
In international discourse, Russia is recognized as the aggressor in the Ukraine war. Supporting Russia has effectively placed Iran alongside a globally hostile actor. This has made the atmosphere for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear file (JCPOA) increasingly negative and challenging.

Weakening Relations with Europe
Previously, European countries such as France, Germany, and Italy were among the supporters of negotiations and engagement with Iran. After Iran’s support for Russia, Europe’s positions became markedly stricter. Iranian ambassadors in some countries were summoned, and diplomatic relations were downgraded. This decision increased Iran’s diplomatic isolation, and even some Asian and African countries that had previously enjoyed good relations with Iran are now acting with greater caution.
Relations with Europe could have provided Iran with opportunities in renewable energy, oil exports, industry, technology, and even agriculture. However, alignment with Russia caused these opportunities to disappear, and Iran’s economic relations with Europe became more limited.

Conclusion
Russia, as one of the major regional and global players, has repeatedly acted throughout history and in the modern era in ways that have endangered Iran’s national interests and security. From the disgraceful treaties of Golestan and Turkmenchay to implicit and sometimes open support for Iran’s adversaries, such as Israel and the UAE in regional disputes, Russia has shown that its relations with Iran are based on momentary interests and power politics rather than lasting friendship and mutual respect. Russia’s support for the UAE on the issue of the three islands, its inaction in the face of Israeli threats against Iran, and its contradictory positions in Syria and the region are all examples of such opportunistic behavior.
Moreover, its limited sale of weapons and refusal to provide advanced air defense systems and fighter jets to Iran are further evidence of Russia’s lack of full trust in Tehran. These betrayals and Russia’s double games make it urgently clear that Iran needs to reassess its foreign policy and strengthen its defensive and diplomatic capacities.

Strategic Recommendations

1. Iran should diversify its international partnerships to avoid excessive dependence on Russia and develop strategic relations with various countries.
2. Strengthening indigenous defense capabilities—especially in air defense and aerospace—is essential to reduce vulnerability to external pressures.
3. A more active diplomacy and multilateral approach should replace reliance on a limited number of actors who may disregard Iran’s interests.
4. Iran should foster cooperation and understanding with its regional neighbors to benefit from developmental and security opportunities, while preventing regional disputes from becoming avenues for others’ influence.
5. Clarifying regional policies and using media and academic resources to expose the opportunistic and treacherous policies of foreign actors—particularly Russia—can help increase domestic and regional support.
6. Iran should immediately adopt a balanced, independent foreign policy based on national interests; distance itself from any military and aggressive actions; regain Europe’s lost trust; and engage with the East with vigilance and a critical perspective.
7. Ultimately, Iran must pursue a realistic, intelligent, and independent policy based on national interests and the preservation of its territorial integrity, in order to withstand the complex games of major powers and elevate its position in regional and global equations.

Editorial Board of the Iranian Journal of International Relations