T
he ongoing war in Ukraine has shed new light on the strategic partnership
between Russia and Iran. Although the countries’ close relationship pre-
dated Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict
has spurred greater defense and economic cooperation and raised new
questions about their ability to surmount tensions within what remains an unequal
partnership. Long the junior partner in this relationship, Iran has assumed a new
role as a key military supplier to Russia, providing hundreds of unmanned aerial
systems (UASs) and reportedly considering a Russian request to purchase Iranian-
made surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
1
In exchange, Russia has offered Tehran
what senior British diplomats have characterized as “an unprecedented level of mili-
tary and technical support” to advance Iranian weapons capabilities, including the
provision of multi-role aircraft; air defense; intelligence, surveillance, and recon-
naissance; and cyber capabilities.
2
Russia and Iran’s ability to maintain a cohesive
partnership and overcome sources of tension and competition will be a major deter-
minant in both Russia’s ability to sustain its military operations in Ukraine and the
United States’ ability to advance its interests in the Middle East.
MICHELLE GRISÉ, ALEXANDRA T. EVANS
The Drivers of and Outlook for
Russian-Iranian Cooperation
C O R P O R A T I O N
Perspective
EXPERT INSIGHTS ON A TIMELY POLICY ISSUE
October 2023
