Islamabad (Khyber Mail): The fall of Assad in Syria was a catalyst in bringing Russia and Iran to a treaty partnership, according to Dr. Igor Matveev, Professor at the Department of International Business, Financial University, Moscow. He made these remarks at an event related to the Russia-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, held by the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad.
Dr. Matveev presented the Iranian perspective on Russia’s role in Syria, highlighting that Iranians believed Russia had compromised with Turkey over Syria or paved the way for negotiations with Trump over Ukraine. He also noted that Iranians thought Russia had prioritized Libya over Syria.
Dr. Matveev clarified that there was no official partnership between Russia and Iran in Syria and that both states were pursuing their own interests during the decade-long Syrian Civil War. He described the nature of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and Iran, mentioning that the treaty entailed diversified portfolios ranging from defense cooperation to economic collaboration between the two states. While it was too early to say whether this partnership was a “realpolitik agreement” or a “declarative act,” Dr. Matveev suggested that both Russia and Iran would prioritize their respective regions, i.e., Ukraine and the Middle East.