Russia’s future in Iran looks brighter as Europe, US fade
Moscow hopes its efforts to help Iran work around US sanctions will pay off in trade, finance and politics.
![KYRGYZSTAN-SCO/PUTIN-ROUHANI Russia's President Vladimir†Putin†and Iran's President†Hassan†Rouhani attend a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan June 14, 2019. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1D5F7AAE10](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2019/09/RTX6ZBSK.jpg/RTX6ZBSK.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=uE_4FMV7)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out nuclear negotiations with the United States, and on Sept. 26 apparently wrote off Europe as well.
That leaves Moscow in the driver's seat as it works with Tehran to develop a system that benefits them both by evading US sanctions.