Why Iran won’t work as a bargaining chip between Russia, US
Russia and Iran have enough overlapping interests to keep their relationship strong, even if the United States tries to interfere.
![RUSSIA-IRAN/ Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani attend a news conference after the talks in Tehran, Iran, November 23, 2015. To match Insight RUSSIA-IRAN/ Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/Kremlin/File Photo via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RTX2BOG5](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2017/02/RTX2BOG5.jpg/RTX2BOG5.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=Gg_S3GGh)
There's been a lot of talk recently about US President Donald Trump's supposed effort to drive a wedge between Moscow and Tehran. The idea looks half-baked.
The Wall Street Journal last month cited "senior administration, European and Arab officials involved in the policy discussions" on Syria and the Islamic State (IS) as saying Trump is looking to partner with Russia while pressuring Iran, especially regarding its nuclear status.