Historically, Russia-Iran relations have oscillated from cooperation and friendship to rivalry and conflict influenced by the international developments and self-interests of both countries. However, due to the current events in the Middle East, Moscow and Tehran have found accommodation and understanding based on their domestic priorities and external strategies. Iran believes that Russia is a balancing force to Western hegemony in the Middle East and has made significant concessions to Moscow while Russia strives to expand its influence in the Middle East and protect its strategic interests and economic cooperation with the Republic of Iran.
