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Iran Takes Putin's Side in Ukraine War
(Jewish Chronicle-UK) Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin - The leaders of Turkey, Iran and Russia who gathered in Tehran last week did not focus on Israel. Iran has wholeheartedly taken Putin's side against the U.S. by justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Supreme Leader Khamenei declared that "the U.S. and its European allies left Moscow with no choice but to invade," and that they would have declared war on Russia in any case if Moscow had not pre-empted them. Iran can assist Russia in bypassing sanctions and providing it with weapons systems that it lacks, such as drones. At the same time, it is important to remember that between Iran and Russia and between Turkey and Russia there are difficult historical legacies of wars and crises, and inherent strategic rivalries. The war in Ukraine also creates tensions between Moscow and Tehran. They are competing for the Chinese oil market, which bypasses sanctions, and Beijing is exploiting their situation to demand lower prices. In Syria, Iran and Russia have a complex relationship of partnership and competition. They each support Assad while competing for influence over the regime, the military, infrastructure projects and revenues. The writer is former Head of the Israeli Defense Intelligence and former Director of Israel's Institute for National Security Studies.