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Can shared disdain for US improve Russia-Iran ties?

Although Iran and Russia are both fountains of anti-Western rhetoric and sentiments, it is for different reasons and will not necessarily bring the two countries closer together.
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There is a common misperception that Russian-Iranian relations thrive on the anti-West sentiments of both countries’ political elitesIranian and Russian politicians help spread this idea, feeding the idea that the shared vision of a common enemy can bring the two countries together. Yet they overlook that the nature of their hatred toward the United States differs, and this difference matters.

While Russia’s negative attitude is determined by what is frequently referred to as the Cold War 2.0, the source of Iran’s anti-West feelings lies elsewhere. Indeed, the past few months have been marked in Iran by a new wave of anti-West rhetoric. Politicians at all levels have persistently warned the population that the United States should still not be trusted and that the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), could be just another Western trick. They insist that Iran will abandon the deal if the United States proves reluctant to implement its part of the bargain or deviates from the initial agreement. US President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign statement that canceling the agreement will be one of the first steps he takes has further fueled Iran’s anti-US sentiment since his victory.

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