Russian influence

A S-200 surface-to-air missile system is on display in Terhran.

Analysis

Iran uses first joint SCO field drill to tout drone power, assert post-war resilience

The five-day drill includes participation from China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Observer states Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Iraq will also be present.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

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Saudi Arabia signs first visa-free travel agreement with Russia: What to know

The deal will allow citizens of either country to enter visa-free for 90 days for tourism, business and family visits.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Kremlin in Moscow, on May 9, 2025.

Egypt, Russia advance construction at Dabaa nuclear plant: What to know

The Dabaa nuclear plant could help Egypt address its energy woes while boosting cooperation with Russia.

A picture taken in Damascus on Dec. 9, 2024, shows the building of the Iranian Embassy, which was ransacked after anti-government fighters took the Syrian capital the previous day, with a portrait of Iran's slain Revolutionary Guards commander, Qasem Soleimani, still hanging on its fence.

Analysis

As Sharaa heads to Washington, Iran looks to Russia to rebuild Syria ties

Ahmed al-Sharaa's historic visit to the US highlights Syria's strategic pivot after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad, which has left a vacuum Tehran will be struggling to fill despite years of deep influence.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Latest News

Grappling with Western sanctions, Iran, Belarus strengthen military ties

Iran's Deputy Defense Minister Majid Ebnoreza (L) sits next to Andrei Matsiyevich.

Turkey, Qatar sign defense deal as Ankara eyes Doha’s Eurofighters

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Russia, Iran to boost ties in ‘all areas’ as Tehran claims nuclear restrictions expired

ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Despite internal rifts over Russia’s reliability, Iran pushes closer to Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sign a strategic partnership treaty during a ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 17, 2025.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

This picture shows an Oceanic Whitetip shark swimming in the blue near the Elphinstone reef dive site off the coast of Marsa Alam in the Egyptian Red Sea on October 9, 2018. (Photo by Andrea BERNARDI / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREA BERNARDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Culture

Russian citizen killed in Egypt shark attack in Red Sea

A few foreign tourists have been killed over recent years in shark attacks in the Red Sea, where Russian tourism is important to Egypt’s economy.

Photo of Fattah hypersonic missile as it was unveiled on Iran's Press TV on June 6, 2023

Iran unveils first hypersonic missile 'Fattah,' says no system can intercept it

Boastfully adding to its already massive stockpile of long-range projectiles, Tehran appeared headed for a fresh collision course with Israel and its Western adversaries, which remain unnerved by Iran's missile program.

TOPSHOT - A huge electoral poster bearing a portrait of Turkish President and presidential candidate of AK Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a slogan which reads "Keep going with the right man" covers the facade of a high-rise building in Ankara, on May 23, 2023, ahead of the presidential election runoff on May 28, 2023. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Al-Monitor/Premise Turkey poll: Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu statistically tied in election runoff

The poll found the economy, refugees and justice stand out as the top three issues that the country faces, with 71% of respondents favoring an imminent return of refugees in the country.

Russia's Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrives to attend an expanded meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow, on December 21, 2022. - Russian President described today the conflict in Ukraine as a "shared tragedy" but placed blame for the outbreak of hostilities on Ukraine and its allies, not Moscow. (Photo by Sergey Fadeichev / Sputnik / AFP) (Photo by SERGEY FADEICHEV/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian interior minister visits Saudi Arabia in Zelenskyy's wake

The Ukrainian president criticized the Russian invasion during his surprise trip to Saudi Arabia to attend the Arab League summit.

Volodymyr Zelensky at Arab League Summit

Ukraine’s Zelensky in Saudi Arabia for Arab League summit

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who's also attending, is expected to discuss the drug trade and Syrian refugees at his first summit since Syria was readmitted to the Arab League.

US warship Cyprus

Turkey lashes out at US over warship anchored in Cyprus

The island remains ethnically divided between Turkish- and Greek-Cypriots since Turkey’s military intervention in 1974 in response to a Greek military coup.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi hold a meeting in Tehran on July 19, 2022. - Iran's president will host his Russian and Turkish counterparts for talks on the Syrian war in a three-way summit overshadowed by fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei SAVOSTYANOV / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SAVOSTYANOV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran, Russia ink $1.6 billion rail deal to rival Suez Canal

Iran and Russia agreed to build a railway between two Iranian cities as they continue to develop their trade relations despite US sanctions.

ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Iran hosts Russian navy chief, seeks to boost China triangle

Russian and Iranian commanders discussed forming joint committees tasked with deepening cooperation as sanctions-hit Tehran continues to lean on Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint press conference with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts following their summit in Tehran on July 19, 2022. (Photo by Grigory SYSOYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by GRIGORY SYSOYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israeli officials visited Russia, discussed Iran on rare trip

Israel is trying to have it both ways by increasing its assistance to Ukraine while preserving its security ties with Russia.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with Sudan’s paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as Hemedti in Khartoum, Sudan in February 2023. - Russian Foreign Ministry

Sudan war complicates Russia's port plans, strains Wagner ties in Libya

NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images

Russia’s Tatneft makes new oil discovery in Libya

Russia and the controversial military contractor Wagner Group have longstanding interests in Libya’s oil, but instability has hurt the ability of Russian oil companies to operate in the North African country.

Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Turkey Elections: Kilicdaroglu outreach to US, NATO hindered by Russia ties

Even if victory for the opposition reinvigorates Turkey’s relations with NATO, analysts say there’s no chance Ankara will break off ties with Russia.