Iran – Russia Relations under Ahmadinejad Era

Abstract

This study aims to contribute an evaluation of Russian-Iran relations under Ahmadinejad administration in recent years. Therefore, the cases of nuclear, technologic, gas and oil cooperation, military and arms factor as well as international contexts are criticized during this study. In fact, in Russia’s international economic strategy, the state plays a central role in managing the domestic economy and society as well as in interacting with the outside world. Energy has become the single most important issue in Russian foreign policy, occupying the place of importance and emphasis that military relations used to have in Soviet foreign policy and creating speculation about Russia as an energy superpower. Thus, energy dominates Russia's relations with almost every important country or region, namely its post-Soviet neighbors such as Europe, China, and Iran. So, Iran is an important neighbor in terms of Russian foreign policy. And it is obvious that the institutional context played an important role in the manner in which Russia engaged Iran. In the Iranian case, in contrast with the other cases examined, there was strong division between various segments of the government about the extent to which Russia should cooperate. This both stymied and encouraged cooperation at various times. In large part, economic actors were the first to engage in relations with this state. Both ministries and their ‘clients’ had much to gain in the Iranian market. Within all these aspects, the main objective of this article is to have a comprehensive understanding of Russian-Iran relations with Ahmadinejad administration in Iran.

Keywords: Ahmadinejad’s Foreign Policy, Russia Foreign Policy, Energy Cooperation’s, U.S. Foreign Policy, Nuclear Program