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Iran's Rivalry with Russia in Syria
(Ha'aretz) Zvi Bar'el - Iran has learned that despite the military and economic assistance it gave Assad, the Syrian president favors Russia, to which he granted franchises to develop the Syrian oil fields and huge contracts to rehabilitate infrastructures after the war. The economic rivalry between Iran and Russia was reflected last week in clashes between Iranian militia forces and Russian forces near Aleppo's vegetable market over controlling checkpoints and charging commissions. Iran also blames Russia for indirectly coordinating the last Israeli air force attack on its forces in Syria with Israel. Iranian commentators believe Russia and Israel are planning to dispossess Iran of its achievements in Syria.