The Middle East Institute is proud to host Dr. Mark Katz, professor at George Mason University, for a discussion of current relations between Iran and Russia. The Obama Administration has attempted to improve US relations both with both countries. However, neither Tehran nor Moscow has responded favorably toward the new administration's initiatives. While Tehran and Moscow continue to distrust Washington, they also distrust each other.
In his talk, Katz will discuss Moscow’s views on the Iranian nuclear issue and Security Council sanctions, current Iranian political unrest, Iran’s prospects as a major emerging gas exporter and transit route from the Caspian Basin, and the prospects for an Iranian-American rapprochement. He will also discuss Tehran’s views of Russian policy on these issues. Despite shared antipathy toward the United States, he notes that the issues dividing Moscow and Tehran are sufficiently serious that the prospects for increased collaboration between them appear quite limited.