Russia’s expansion in the area

Abdulrahman Al-Rashed begins his article in Asharq Al-Awsat by explaining that “if it is a surprise that Russians take a military base in Iran, then the fact that Iran would grant them footholds on their territories is even more surprising.”

“Russians use Iranian atmosphere and military airports in their joint military operations defending Assad’s regime, so why would Russians be given the clearance to use a military base and not just an aerial service?... This is what makes the issue doubtful,” the writer explains, adding that the evolvement of their military relations is not only because of their joint war in Syria.

“Is Russia’s new step to increase its military activity in the Middle East, in addition to using the Iranian Hamedan Airbase, related in any way to its struggle with the NATO in central Asia and east Europe…?” the writer asks.

The writer then explains that “if fighting the west is Russia’s excuse for using Iran as a headquarters for its military activity, this doesn’t justify as to why Tehran is supporting Russia,” adding that “the close relations between Moscow and Ayatullah Khamenei’s regime will probably be at the expense of Russia’s other relations in the Middle East.”

The writer then explains that “it may be that by granting the Russians the Hamedan Airbase, Iran wants to bargain with the American and blackmail them especially after signs that the nuclear deal between Iran and the west might fail.”

The writer concludes by summing up the possible reasons behind the Russian-Iranian developments, explaining that “the alliances might reflect Russia’s desire to expand its military and political power, or part of a strategy in face of NATO, or it could be an Iranian attempt to blackmail the west to activate the nuclear agreement.”