... soil were once again called into question. Reports began to circulate about plans to transfer the warheads from Incirlik to other countries (including Romania, although this rumor was subsequently denied) [
20
].
Another important nuclear issue in the Middle East was Iran’s nuclear program. The signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 on 14 July 2015 was a major breakthrough. The agreement reflects Russia’s position as a participant in the negotiation process regarding ...
... countries, opportunities for building cooperation in these areas. Security issues were also touched upon. The Russian and Iranian sides reaffirmed the importance of developing a strategic view on the creation of new regional security architecture in the Middle East.
The parties agreed to develop contacts and outlined further areas of cooperation between RIAC and the Iranian think tanks.
... the Middle East. Leading Russian corporations are planning to develop energy, military-technical, agricultural and other types of cooperation with the countries in the region.
Russian experts have helped to build the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East near the Iranian city of Bushehr, and the two sides have signed contracts on the construction of additional blocks [
12
]. Contracts were signed on the construction of nuclear plants in Turkey [
13
] and Egypt [
14
], with work already under-way. In addition, ...
... malign influence in the region was sparked by several correlated events: the relative decline of global role of the U.S., its decision to reconsider existing commitments to regional allies, and the recent rise of Iran's profile in major conflicts in the Middle East. Iran is not an ordinary player, primarily due to its peculiar political regime, its ideological vision for the region, and its impressive immunity to outside pressure. The U.S. has been signaling that it would not stay passive if Iranian expansion challenged ...
... between Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, and the security challenges in the region. The event was organized by Strategic Vision Institute (Islamabad, Pakistan).
The conference had a welcoming session and two more sessions on dynamics of Pakistani-Saudi-Iranian relations, the emerging landscape, and Middle East regional security system.
Khurram Dastgir, current Minister for Defense of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Zafar Iqbal Cheema, Executive Director Strategic Vision Institute, made telcoming remarks at the opening session.
Shamshad Ahmad,...
... Israel is arming some Sunni jihadist rebels. Israel is willing to ally itself with Salafist rebels in order to prevent the “Iranian-Syrian-Hezbollah axis” from proclaiming victory in the Syrian Civil War. Whether this proves to be a wise decision for ... ... al-Assad; rather it sees him as the only alternative to an Islamic fundamentalist state. Russia’s main objective is that the Middle East remains stable while Syria was heading towards anything but stability. There are two reasons why Russia entered the ...
..., RIAC Deputy Director of Programs, and Davood Kiani, IRAS President, moderated the meeting.
On February 6 Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held a video conference with the Institute for Iran-Eurasia Studies (IRAS) on Russia’s and Iran’s positions in the Middle East in post-ISIS period.
The video conference consisted of two sessions: the presentations made by the speakers and the following discussions between the sided (Q&A). Timur Makhmutov, RIAC Deputy Director of Programs, and Davood Kiani, IRAS President,...
... imply that Moscow and Riyadh will agree on all issues. China is a major Saudi trade partner (the biggest one in 2015), but at the moment keeps a rather low profile in Middle Eastern disputes.
Russia's Foreign Policy: Looking Towards 2018
Russia and the Middle East
Iran, for its part, has some elements of democracy (there are parliamentary and presidential elections) and a quite diversified economy, but remains largely controlled by its conservative clerical establishment. Recurrent and recent protests show there ...
... appears to be in a particularly difficult situation.
Trump’s decision strengthens the positions of Iran, the exact opposite to what the President of the United States wants. We are reminded of 2003, when the United States’ invasion of Iraq made Iran the most influential external force in that country.
Vitaly Naumkin:
Qatar Сrisis: What’s Next?
The decision is ruining the very concept of the Middle Eastern peace process, which contains such issues as refugees, borders and Jerusalem (the most important and difficult issue), all of which lying at the core of the talks on the so-called final status.
The wave of violence caused by Trump’s decision ...
... between Russia and Iran on the Syrian issue, the parties see each other as indispensable partners at this stage and will continue cooperation;
Iran will try to convince Russia of the non-constructiveness of the U.S. approach to solving the issues in the Middle East and the impossibility of a meaningful dialogue with them;
In the short term, Russia and Iran will not be able to significantly increase the economic basis for cooperation;
Major projects with the participation of the state will remain the main basis for the development of economic relations between Russia and Iran.
