Russian nuclear assitance more nuanced that most think...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kevin23
One reason is that Russia has been helping Iran to some extent build it's nulcear program, as well as you mentioned, supplying arms to the Iranians. .
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A nuclear Iran is not good news from the Russian perspective either. In fact, part of the reason they are are assisting the Iranians is to ensure that Iran's nuclear power ambitions are not directed at Russia. It's the Russian's way of keeping an eye on things whilsts finding meaningful employment to its own specialists who would otherwise be working for the Iranians anyway (but without GRU/SVR supervision!). Russia would rather "co-operate" with its neighbour to the south (let's not forget that) rather than with its former peer competitor with whom it has no borders. It is Iran that sits on the Caspian, it is Iran (and Turkey) that are attempting to spread their influence through Central Asia and the Caucasus (inc. Chechnya) (sunni Turkic peoples for the latter and Shia tribes for the former). Russian policy is driven by pragmatism (for the most part) with lingering suspicions about the West (i.e., the US) especially given the Georgian Affair of a few years ago.