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Why Isn’t Russia Defending Iran? Backing the most anti-Western Middle Eastern power was convenient until it wasn’t.
The Atlantic ^ | June 18, 2025 | Hanna Notte

Posted on 06/18/2025 8:20:12 AM PDT by Miami Rebel

Iran is suffering blow after blow, and Russia, its most powerful supporter, is apparently not prepared to do much of anything about it.

Not long ago, backing the West’s least-favorite power in the Middle East had its uses. In prosecuting his war of attrition in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has made confrontation with the West the organizing principle of his foreign policy. In that context, edging closer to Iran and its partners in the “Axis of Resistance” made sense.

...........

A defenseless Iran will not respond well to Russian sticks, and in any case, Moscow is unlikely to take a punitive approach to Tehran. Russia may not have shown up as Iran’s knight in shining armor, but the two countries are still partners, and they are fundamentally united in an anti-Western agenda. Russia also has few meaningful carrots to offer Iran at this point and will be cautious about providing military equipment in a moment when Israel is systematically destroying it. And Putin is not someone who likes to openly side with what appears to be the losing party.

.........

Strategically isolated and acutely vulnerable, Iran will be even more distrustful of the United States than it was before Israel’s attack, and it will want Russia involved for at least the appearance of balance. But Russia has little influence over the outcome of the war, Iran’s next steps, or Washington’s decision as to whether it will engage militarily.

When it comes to shaping events far from Russia’s borders, Moscow is only so interested and only so able, particularly given its deep investment in the war in Ukraine. Having anti-Western partners in the Middle East serves its purpose. But no one should hold their breath waiting for Russia to come to the rescue of Iran.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: anothersuccessstory; iran; iranfafo; mullahloversonfr; papertiger; russia; russiansuicide; toiletpapertiger; vladtheimploder; yeahbutbrics
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1 posted on 06/18/2025 8:20:12 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

Putin’s been on a losing streak: Hezbollah, Assad, and now Iran.


2 posted on 06/18/2025 8:20:56 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

Putin’s Russia is becoming more Christian... mullahs are not worth backing anymore.


3 posted on 06/18/2025 8:22:20 AM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world or something )
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To: Miami Rebel

Russia is pretty stretched. A better question is why isn’t China.


4 posted on 06/18/2025 8:22:54 AM PDT by alternatives?
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To: Miami Rebel

The Russian bear has its paw stuck in the Ukrainian honey jar.


5 posted on 06/18/2025 8:24:02 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: Miami Rebel

I think Russia is busy in Ukraine...


6 posted on 06/18/2025 8:24:37 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: Miami Rebel

because they have their hands full in Ukraine. Which makes this the PERFECT time to take out Iran once and for all.

NO DEALS!

unless the deal is... the ayatollah flees the country!


7 posted on 06/18/2025 8:24:45 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Miami Rebel

I suspect Trump and Putin reached a secret deal. Putin must publicly support Iran, so he can’t come out and just say he’s thrown them under the bus.


8 posted on 06/18/2025 8:25:09 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Miami Rebel

Their a little bit busy in Ukraine and of course the Globalist would use any helping Iran as reason to start WW3…


9 posted on 06/18/2025 8:25:17 AM PDT by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show host to me.... Sting)
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To: All

Countries don’t have permanent friends just interests


10 posted on 06/18/2025 8:26:01 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: Kazan

Iran is alone in this all their allies are either gone or unable to help at the moment.

This is the moment to eliminate ayatollah’s forever in Iran and end decades of terrorism emanating from there


11 posted on 06/18/2025 8:26:12 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Miami Rebel

It’s sorta busy invading Ukraine.


12 posted on 06/18/2025 8:26:47 AM PDT by fruser1
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Bingo. Man, Trump is always 3 steps ahead of everyone.


13 posted on 06/18/2025 8:26:51 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: teeman8r

“Putin’s Russia is becoming more Christian...”

From pulpit to propaganda machine: tracing the Russian Orthodox Church’s role in Putin’s war

https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/pulpit-propaganda-machine-tracing-russian-orthodox-churchs-role-putins-war


14 posted on 06/18/2025 8:28:11 AM PDT by TexasGator (1."'1'1.//1-1.'I'11-.1.'1'11\1I11111111111.1'11.'11/'~~'111./.)
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To: Miami Rebel
IMHO, the number one Middle Eastern friend for Russia is Turkey. A pipeline through Turkey could supply natural gas to Europe from Israel, etc. As long as Turkey doesn't allow that, Russia has huge control over Europe. I believe all of the talk between Russia and Iran is smoke and mirrors so people don't pay attention to the real linchpin of Russian control over Europe, which is Turkey.

It always comes down to energy.

15 posted on 06/18/2025 8:28:24 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: teeman8r

I don’t trust any MSM/deep-state/Atlanticist media to give an accurate assessment of anything regarding Russia, China, Iran, Trump, migration, etc....

who says Russia isn’t helping them? It’s a proxy war, and at this point, Russian troops would be useless anyway.

But who says they aren’t providing intel, AD systems, missiles, helping on logistics, etc...?


16 posted on 06/18/2025 8:29:11 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: Miami Rebel
A losing streak?

It's all but over in Ukraine. And, gaining everything east of the Dnieper river is far more important than anything Iran was providing them.

But, if the goal of what we're doing by globalist tyrants is first and foremost to hurt Russia (which it is), then their fools. All driving out the regime in Iran is going to do is push Russia further into a dangerous alliance with China, WHICH IS A DISASTER FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

Making Russia our enemy and pushing the Russians into an alliance with China has been one of the dumbest foreign policy decisions in the last 50 years. Stupid doesn't even begin to describe it.

17 posted on 06/18/2025 8:29:18 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: teeman8r

About 30% of Americans are regular churchgoers. In Russia, the number is about 10%. There’s a misapprehension that Russia is a super-Christian nation.


18 posted on 06/18/2025 8:29:38 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: teeman8r

LOL.


19 posted on 06/18/2025 8:30:11 AM PDT by rrrod (6)
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To: Miami Rebel

Russia and Iran sign an alliance...so it’s worth nothing


20 posted on 06/18/2025 8:31:33 AM PDT by rrrod (6)
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