In private meetings in Moscow last week, senior Russian officials insisted that Russia’s government remain committed to cooperation with the United States in dealing with Iran, Syria and other international challenges. Moreover, notwithstanding divergent US and Russian perspectives about Iran and its domestic and international conduct, Russia would prefer to avoid the emergence of a nuclear-armed Iran, if possible, at an acceptable cost. Nevertheless, the drama underway in Ukraine appears to be contributing to a rapprochement between the Moscow and Tehran.

Well before instability in Ukraine erupted into a full-blown crisis with the collapse of former President Viktor Yanukovych’s government in late February, Russia and Iran already appeared to be drawing closer to one another. Notwithstanding mutual suspicions, they share a variety of interests in Central Asia and the Middle East, especially in Syria. They also share profound reservations about American foreign policy and are prepared at times to oppose it.

From Washington’s perspective, this is reason enough for continuing scrutiny — especially when Obama administration officials are already hinting at a possible long-term confrontation with Russia, complete with a new containment policy. A senior Russian diplomat has implied that heavy US and European pressure on Moscow over Ukraine could lead Russia to change its position in the sensitive P5+1 talks on Iran’s nuclear program. This statement came just a few weeks after Russian and Iranian officials agreed to deepen cooperation in the “security and economic spheres.”

Fortunately, the Kremlin appears to recognize that spoiling the P5+1 negotiations at this point would dramatically escalate the US-Russian and European-Russian dispute over Ukraine and is accordingly reluctant to do so. Russian officials probably also see major arms sales — including a delivery of S-300 missiles blocked by then-President Dmitry Medvedev — as escalatory.