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Russia Constrains Iran

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Dore Gold - Russia has made it clear that it expects all foreign forces to withdraw from Syria, including those forces belonging to Iran, Turkey, the U.S., and Hizbullah. It appears that the Kremlin began to understand that Iran handicapped Russia's ability to realize its interests in the Middle East. Iran was putting Russia's achievements at risk through a policy of escalation with Israel. A Moscow think tank closely identified with President Putin published a commentary blaming Iran for the deteriorating situation between Iran and Israel in the Syrian theater. Putin seemed to have growing reservations about Iran's policy of exporting the Islamic revolution from the soil of Syria. Now, with IS fundamentally vanquished, Iranian military activity in Syria lost its primary justification. Russia is not cutting its ties with Iran, but it is clearly cutting back Iran's freedom of action in Syria. The idea that Russia would back Iran's use of Syria as a platform for operations against Israel or Jordan is not tenable. The writer, former director general of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israeli ambassador to the UN, is president of the Jerusalem Center.
2018-06-04 00:00:00
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