IRAN-RUSSIA ALLIANCE: OPPORTUNITIES, LIMITS, AND CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST - Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to unprecedented levels of Iran-Russia cooperation across military, economic, and political fronts. The ongoing war in Gaza shows widening Iran-Russia coordination; senior Iranian officials met with Hamas representatives in Moscow as recently as October 27.

For years, Iran has provided Hamas the overwhelming majority of its funding, weapons, and training—all of which were leveraged on October 7 in the deadly attack in Israel. Simultaneously, Iran militarily supports Russian aggression in Ukraine with drones in addition to artillery and tank ammunition. While the Iran-Russia anti-Western alliance of convenience is clear, the opportunities and limits of their relationship are less so.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 11/02/23