Russia and Iran: Why the Alliance of Two Regimes is Actually Illusory.

According to inkorr.com: Although Russia and Iran showcase their cooperation to the public, in reality, they cannot trust each other. According to the data from the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, both countries more readily perceive each other as potential rivals rather than reliable partners. This is confirmed by instances of espionage and conflicting geopolitical interests.

'In June 2025, during a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, a member of the Iranian Political Expediency Council, Seyyed Mohammad Sadr, accused Russia of passing intelligence to Israel about the locations of Iranian air defense systems. He stated that this indicates the futility of the 'strategic alliance' with Moscow. 'Russia condemned Israel's attack on Iran only in words, but in fact facilitated it,' Sadr said. This incident highlighted the fragility of a partnership where economic ties do not guarantee political loyalty.'

After 2022, Russia significantly invested in Iran, becoming the largest foreign investor in 2024. In 2023, the volume of Russian investment amounted to $2.7 billion, and Moscow promised to invest another $8 billion in the oil and gas sector. The Russian oil company 'ZN Vostok' is actively operating in Iran, with key projects including the 'Rasht - Astara' railway funded by the Russian Federation, and a gas pipeline through Azerbaijan.

Threat to Cooperation

However, intelligence noted that these ambitious plans could be under threat. 'Historical distrust, compounded by modern conflicts of interest, makes the 'alliance' of the two regimes illusory. Moscow is losing not only Iran but also its status as a global player in the Middle East,' emphasized the SBU.

The Ukrainian intelligence service also highlighted that the economic relations between Russia and Iran do not provide political stability, and there is a serious threat to further cooperation between these countries.

This situation indicates the complexities of the power dynamics in the Middle East, where economic interests may not align with political alliances. In conditions of instability, both states are forced to reassess their strategies since any threat of mistrust can influence their共同未来.