Russia-Iran Interactions Transactional, Warming Fast

Iran-Russia relations have entered a new era of mutual cooperation. Thanks to the war in Ukraine, Moscow and Tehran’s interests — whether military, economic or geopolitical — have aligned to an extent not seen for many decades, Emil Avdaliani, a professor of international relations at the European University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a scholar of the Silk Roads, wrote for The Moscow Times. The full text of the article follows:
The contrast with the period before the Russian invasion of Ukraine is striking. Since Feb. 24, 2022, bilateral political meetings have multiplied. High-level delegations are constantly traveling between the two countries. 
On the economic front, Russian exports to Iran rose 27% last year and imports from Iran increased by 10%. Both sides have agreed to scale up trade in currencies other than the US dollar, while Russia has pledged to invest an unprecedented $40 billion in Iran’s oil and gas sector.