As his war on Ukraine rages, Russia’s Putin heads to Iran
Al JazeeraThe increasingly isolated president will meet his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Tehran to discuss Syria as the East-West divide deepens. The meeting, which will include Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, take places in the trilateral “Astana format” aimed at resolving differences in Syria, but there is much more at stake as war rages in Ukraine. Putin’s visit comes after United States national security adviser Jake Sullivan claimed last week that Iran wants to sell “hundreds” of armed drones to Russia to be used in the war in Ukraine. It is important to interpret Putin and Erdogan’s trip to Iran within the context of “increased East-West bifurcation” following the Ukraine war, according to Cafiero. “There is a strong message being sent to Washington about Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara’s desires to work together without US policies, positions, and agendas being imposed on them.” There is also the issue of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – of which Russia is a member.