structural challenges of iran-russia strategic relations: iranian’s anti imperialism approach and russian pragmatism

regulating relations with great powers constitutes one of the most significant issues of each country’s foreign policy. iran, the soviet :union: and later russia have failed to establish strategic relations, despite their efforts to enhance mutual relations since late 1980s. it is believed that iran found it politically expedient to have ties with moscow due to its disputed relations with the west. on the other hand, foreign policies adopted by iran and russia at international arena differ from each other to some extent. although there is no indication of strategic conflict between iran and russia, some rifts have been created between them. iran’s anti-imperialism approach and russian pragmatism as well as an international monopoly that forces tehran to turn to moscow for meeting some of its political and economic needs could justify some of these rifts.