Vikrant Shekhawat : Mar 15, 2025, 11:19 AM
US-Russia Relations: Due to the Ukraine war, America and Russia, who have been staunch opponents of each other till now, are now seen coming closer unexpectedly. In this changed equation, the role of former US President and potential candidate Donald Trump has been important, because ending the Ukraine war is one of his major election promises. This is the reason why the Trump administration is moving rapidly in this direction.Trump's initiative and Russia-US dialogueDonald Trump, who was once a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has now talked to Putin about the Ukraine issue. Apart from this, the recent meeting of the US delegation with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia also indicates that a new turn is coming in the relations between the two countries. This equation can give rise to many changes at the global level, the biggest impact of which is likely to be on the Middle East.Alarm bells for IranWhile the growing closeness between Russia and America can be beneficial for many countries, it can create a big crisis for Iran. Russian-born journalist and filmmaker Tanya Lukyanova believes that the improving relations between the US and Russia may result in Moscow distancing itself from Tehran.Lukyanova said in the "I for Iran" podcast, "It appears that Russia is no longer as interested in Iranian military assistance, as the situation in the Ukraine war is changing and the geopolitical equations are also changing with the ceasefire proposed by the US and Ukraine." It is worth noting that till now Iran had given full support to Russia in the Ukraine war, but if Russia comes in support of Trump, Iran may have to suffer a big loss.Increasing closeness of Iran-Russia and its impactAccording to Russian state media, President Putin recently agreed to mediate in nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. This may see a change in the equation between Iran and Russia that has been formed for years. Military cooperation between Iran and Russia had increased since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, in which Iran emerged as a major ally for Russia.Western countries say that Russia used drones, weapons and missiles received from Iran in the war. Apart from this, with the help of Iran, Russia was also successful in bypassing US sanctions. But now that the equations between Russia and America are changing, difficulties may increase for Iran.Russia's distance from Iran as soon as the Ukraine war ends?If Russia accepts Trump's initiative and strengthens its relations with America, it may indicate that Russia will no longer stand with Iran as strongly as before. This will have a profound impact on Iran's economy, as it currently depends on trade with Russia and China.Iran is already facing an economic crisis due to US sanctions, and if Russia moves away from it, this crisis may deepen further. Now it will be important to see in which direction global politics turns in the coming months and what effect this new US-Russia friendship has on Iran.