French newspaper Le Monde published an article headlined "Après la Syrie, la Russie joue la carte iranienne" ("After Syria Russia plays the Iranian card"). According to the author of the article, Marie Jégo, encouraged by Russia's diplomatic success in Syria, Vladimir Putin is going to increase his influence on the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear crisis, which is the trump card in Putin's big regional game.
"Putin was the first one to meet with new Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, who seems more likely to agree to a compromise solution than his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, trying to ease international sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic" the article reads.
"Playing a major role in the Syrian crisis, Russia has become more influential in the eyes of Tehran," the author writes.
According to her, Russia's support strengthens Iran's position ahead of the Geneva meeting with the 5+1 group.
The Russian authorities believe that Iran is the country's strategic partner, as Sunni extremism is becoming a very acute problem and US troops are leaving Afghanistan. In such circumstances, good relations with Iran seem crucial for Russia, the author writes.
"The country has already lost its allies such as Gaddafi's Libya and Saddam Hussein's Iraq and it has never had good relations with the monarchies of the Persian Gulf. That is why Russia will inevitably play the Shiite card," Marie Jégo believes.
