Putin’s presence in Tehran and Americans’ concern about strong Iran-Russia relations
According to IRNA, Russian President Vladimir Putin came to Tehran yesterday (July 28) to participate in the summit of the member countries of the Astana Group, which was formed for the peaceful settlement of the Syrian civil war.
Putin’s departure to Tehran is considered his first trip to non-Soviet countries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Considering that not many days have passed since US President Joe Biden’s Middle East tour, the American media compared these two events in their reports and analyzes and put the formation of the Tehran-Moscow alliance at the top of their analysis.
Fox News: Putin met with the heads of Iran and Turkey in the midst of the deadly war in Ukraine
This republican media wrote on its website: Putin’s visit took place only one week after US President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East and his meeting with the leaders of Israel and Saudi Arabia and his attempt to distance the countries of the region, especially the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, from Russia.
According to Fox News, it will be difficult for the countries of the Middle East to isolate Russia, especially since this country participated in the Syrian war, is a member of the OPEC+ group, and deals with OPEC member oil producers.
Associated Press: In Tehran, Putin benefited from Iran’s firm support in the Ukraine war
This American news agency also wrote in a report: In Tehran, Putin received Iran’s decisive support for his country’s military campaign in Ukraine.
This media added: At the same time as the Western sanctions against Russia increase and the country’s costly military campaign drags on, Putin is trying to strengthen Moscow’s ties with Tehran, which is itself the target of similar sanctions against Russia and is considered a possible military and commercial partner. goes to strengthen
New York Times: Moscow’s relations with Tehran are on the path of wider partnership
This newspaper close to the Democrats also wrote in an analysis: Putin’s visit to Iran showed the world that although Russia is becoming more isolated day by day, its relations with Tehran are becoming a wider partnership. During his visit to Tehran, Putin tried to form an alliance between Iran and Russia against America’s efforts to contain countries hostile to the West.
According to the New York Times, the approval of Russia’s war against Ukraine by the Islamic Republic goes far beyond China’s cautious support and is a confirmation of Putin’s position, which accuses the West of leaving no other option against Russia than military action.
This American newspaper claimed: Although Russia, like Iran, has hostile relations with the United States and Tehran and Moscow cooperate militarily in Syria, it has been careful not to get too close to Tehran for years.
The New York Times added: But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed these calculations. Russia, which is excluded from the western markets day by day, looks at Iran as an economic partner and also as an expert in circumventing sanctions.
It is still too early to say whether Tehran can help Russia’s economy stand up against Western sanctions, or whether competition in global energy markets or different political interests will disrupt their partnership once again.
For example, Russia is looking for a new buyer of oil and bypassing the sanctions, and at the same time, it has reduced the share of its two allies, Iran and Venezuela, on the world markets, and started a price war that will end up being detrimental to all of them.
Bloomberg’s claim: Putin faced a decline in his influence in the Middle East
The columnist of the website of this American economic network considered the equal importance of Putin’s trip with Biden’s Middle East tour as an “illusion” and claimed: Putin’s war in Ukraine has destroyed the image of this country in the region, and Russia, instead of a solution to geopolitical, economic problems and security caused by the withdrawal of American forces from the region, has become a new source of crisis.
Bloomberg claimed: The increasing lack of grain and the growing food inflation in Arab countries are the direct result of Putin’s war. His continued support for Iran has become the source of desperation for Israel and Arab countries against Tehran.
In addition to the American media, some officials of this country also commented on Putin’s visit to Tehran.
John Kirby The strategic communications coordinator of the White House National Security Council claimed: This trip shows that Putin is very isolated because of the attack on Ukraine. Putin’s visit to Iran shows that Moscow is facing problems in its defense base and the supply of Russian forces in Ukraine.
Robert MaliIn an interview with CNN regarding Putin’s visit to Iran, America’s special representative for Iran also expressed his concern about the closer relations between Tehran and Moscow and said: Iran now has the right to choose to be relatively dependent on Russia, which is The world is isolated and there is little opportunity for economic cooperation with it, or it can choose to return to the nuclear agreement that we have been negotiating for a year and a half and have normal or better economic relations with its neighbors, Europe and other countries of the world.
Mark Green The Republican representative of Tennessee also tweeted: Today, when Putin is in Iran, President Biden is still negotiating the Iran nuclear deal. It is pathetic.