The Iranian-Western conflict strengthens Putin's cards in the Middle East
The visit of Ali Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to the northern Russian capital of St. Petersburg and his talks with his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, had important implications against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Iran's relations. The increasing activity of Russian movements to reap huge gains from the worsening situation with the West, and around the region.
It is true that this visit came within the framework of Ahmadiyya's participation in the work of the 12th session of the meeting of key security officials, which is being held by Russia these days, but the most important aspect is that it is the first visit of Iranian security. After the worsening situation in Iranian-Western relations, exchanges between Tehran and Tel Aviv became official abroad against the backdrop of strikes. Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international gatherings, especially with the participation of numerous “allies” of Russia and Iran in this forum, attracted the most important attention.
At the end of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Security Councils of Russia and Iran, adding a new dimension to the episodes of strengthening the Russian-Iranian alliance in various fields, in addition to both parties. It is emphasized that during the meeting, more attention was paid to issues related to the development of Russian-Iranian practical cooperation in the “security sector”.
News to the West
Pointing out that the escalation of tensions in the Middle East is the most current element on the negotiating table, the Russian Security Council statement said, “Both parties exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and emphasized their interest in preventing an escalation of tensions. .”
It is noteworthy that this is Ahmadian's second visit to Russia since the beginning of this year, and as it happened this time, the previous visit in January also confirmed that relations and cooperation at the security level “are taking a completely new turn.” The Russian National Security Council said, “Practical coordination between Russia and Iran is focused on entering a new phase in all fields, while raising the level of cooperation, and focusing on practical implementation. Agreements were concluded at the highest level.
According to Russian experts who visited Moscow, Russia's interest in the stages of development of relations with Iran, in various fields, in its timing and in the means of announcing it, carried specific messages to the West. It does not hide its eagerness to show all kinds of direct and indirect support to Iran in the complex situations and the Middle East is currently passing through.
“Bricks”
Within the framework of coordinating Russian policies towards the Middle East with its allies, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday organized a meeting at the level of deputy foreign ministers and special representatives of BRICS member states, a first for the group. The group is dedicated to reviewing developments in the Middle East with the participation of new members, after its expansion at the beginning of the year, in addition to Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa, with representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Kingdom of Iran.
From the Iranian side, Ali Bagheri Ghani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, participated in the meeting.
Russia is chairing the BRICS group for this year, and is seeking to revitalize the organization's drive to support the regional policies of Moscow and its allies, highlighted in an opening speech to the meeting by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.
Baqeri Kani focused on Iran's view of developments in the Middle East and “the Israeli agency's continued attacks on countries in the region, including our consulate in Damascus.”
Before the meeting, Bogdanov held a bilateral meeting with Bagheri Gani, where both sides discussed developments in the regional situation and ways to improve coordination between Moscow and Tehran.
important variable
While Russia in its declared official positions called for “all parties” in the region to exercise restraint and not be drawn into expanding the scope and scale of the conflict, the Kremlin was also keen to ensure the level of Tehran's support. Positions, by directly announcing concrete progress in deepening the alliance in several areas, and indirectly by implementing coordination with China in this sector, and sending messages that Moscow supports the movements of other “allies” to support Tehran's positions, have been demonstrated. For example, a senior North Korean economist visited Tehran in the past two days and Russian state media focused on the course of negotiations and agreements that took place during the visit.
This has led Western circles to conclude that the Kremlin is actively working to take advantage of the deteriorating situation in the region to strengthen its regional cards.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “holds all the cards in the situation in the Middle East and enjoys great influence in regional countries,” the official Novosti news agency quoted former Pentagon adviser Douglas MacGregor as saying.
“Russia has become a major factor in the equation in the Middle East,” the consultant believed. It is more than just a worker. This is an important variable. For now, Vladimir Putin holds all the cards behind the scenes in the Middle East. “It improves a great condition.”
According to the analyst, the Kremlin master is calling on the parties to exercise restraint and patience, while his movements indicate that he is doubling down on his gains.
Last week, Putin held a phone call with President Ibrahim Raisi during which they discussed the situation in the Middle East and Tehran's response to the Israeli strike. According to a Kremlin statement, both presidents stressed that “the root cause of current events in the region is the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”
Although Putin expressed his hope during the conversation that “the Iranian and Israeli sides will exercise restraint and not allow a new round of conflict that threatens to have catastrophic consequences for the entire Middle East,” Russian sources saw Moscow as a gateway to steer regional policies. Helps accumulate diplomatic advantages.
In this context, the focus on deepening security cooperation appeared to be a complementary link to a series of episodes that laid the practical foundations for strengthening the Russian-Iranian alliance in all fields. According to Iran's ambassador to the Russian Federation, Qassem Jalali, Moscow and Tehran have made important progress in deepening joint security cooperation, which, according to an Iranian diplomat, “will not be directed against third parties.”
Earlier in the year, Russia and Iran concluded an intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation.
The agreement was signed by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Iranian counterpart, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.
At the time, Moscow saw the agreement as “an important step in strengthening these relations by establishing the legal and theoretical foundations for the consolidation of full military cooperation.”
According to Minister Sergei Shoigu, it is noteworthy that the terms of the agreement revealed new elements in the mechanisms of defense military cooperation, including an understanding of cooperation in the field of operation of military ships stationed in Russian and Iranian ports. Exchanging delegations, training soldiers and sharing experiences in the field of peacekeeping and combating terrorism.
Financial cooperation
On the economic level, the two countries have taken steps to improve cooperation in the field of avoiding Western sanctions by relying on local currencies, and Russia and Iran have discussed the possibility of creating a joint stable currency, moderate newspaper “Vedomosti” reported. by gold. According to experts, the talks focused on the use of cryptocurrencies instead of the dollar, ruble and Iranian rial in trade between Russia and Iran. They say this is only possible when authorities regulate cryptocurrency trading.
Anton Tkachev, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, ICT and Communication, confirmed the authenticity of these negotiations with Iran. In Russia, he said, the authorities need to fully regulate cryptocurrency trading for the issue to be discussed at the state level.
American anxiety
Meanwhile, these developments have increased the level of Western concern about the prospects for Russian-Iranian cooperation, especially at the military level, with Jack Sullivan expressing his concern about military cooperation between Iran, Russia and North Korea. Security proposals for Iran and North Korea will further destabilize the West Asia and Pacific region.
The US official said: “We are also closely monitoring Russian military proposals, and if Russia were to supply weapons to Iran, this would destabilize the Middle East.”
Responding to a question about military ties between North Korea and Iran, Sullivan referred to “connections” in defense cooperation between the two countries. “From time to time, over the years and over many administrations, we've seen various links in security cooperation between North Korea and Iran that have come and gone and come and gone,” he said.
Sullivan pointed out that deepening cooperation between Russia and Iran and between Russia and North Korea is new or different in the past two years.
He added: “We believe that this is a matter of great concern for the security of Europe beyond Ukraine's borders.” He added: “We are also concerned about what might happen in the other direction.” What would Russia offer North Korea or Iran that would destabilize the Indo-Pacific region or destabilize the Middle East?
