CIA Director William Burns said in an interview that aired on PBS that Russia and Iran are working toward a “full-fledged defense partnership” and that such an arrangement threatens the US and its allies in the Middle East.
As an example of Russian and Iranian military cooperation, Burns cited Iran supplying Russia with drones, although Tehran insists that only happened before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
“The Russians are beginning to look at ways in which, technologically or technically, they can support the Iranians, which poses real threats to Iran’s own neighborhood, to many of our friends and partners in Iran’s neighborhood as well,” Burns said.
Iran on Sunday dismissed Burns’ concerns and said that it wouldn’t “seek permission from anyone” before it expands ties with Russia. “Cooperation between Iran and Russia in various fields including defense is expanding within the framework of common interests… and is not against any third country,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.
Kanani also accused the US of making “baseless political” claims about Iran and said such accusations were part of Washington’s “propaganda war” against the Islamic Republic.
“American officials continue their baseless political claims and illegal actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, questioning the conventional defense and military cooperation between Iran and Russia,” Kanani said.
While the US warns of the growing relationship between Russia and Iran, their stronger ties are the natural result of the US targeting both countries with sanctions. US and other Western pressure against China has also brought Beijing and Moscow closer together, which includes more military cooperation, although China recently reaffirmed it wouldn’t provide arms to aid in the Russian war effort.
This reminds me of 1958 sci fi flick The Day the Earth Exploded — earth knocked off axis, monstrous volcanos, etc etc — because increasing pressure, relentless increasing pressure caused by previous unknown element makes the geologic substratum literally explode. Of course the world escapes annihilation, although the hero mutters ominously about the future.
Well, duh, we are making threats against both.
The battle lines for world war are being drawn. Though I suspect privately Biden would have preferred Iran on the West’s side. History throws dangerous complications.
https://patternofhistory.wordpress.com/
US pressure pushing Russia, Iran and China into mutual defense against barbarians with a rules based budget process has been relentless for many years now.
Pentagoners need a war with China to maintain budget growth. Iran has not been fond of western colonial powers for a long time now. American citizens and their lust for war are reaping exactly what they have sowed.
Nicely cynical…
Good news! Hopefully this is making IsraHell a bit nervous 😁
The aura of military & economic invincibility is rapidly dissipating, and formerly wary victims of the bully are beginning to openly defy it on both heads.
‘to many of our friends and partners in Iran’s neighborhood as well’ Burns said.
Now that IS funny. The parasite that owns our congress and the authoritarian sh*tholes that we have bribed to get along with the parasite that owns our congress. But sure, let’s call them “friends and partners”.
There is an old adage that goes: The enemy of my enemy is my friend…
OMG. Let’s paint both countries into a corner and then act shocked when they cooperate with each other. Didn’t Russia and Iran get the memo that they are supposed to sit alone in penalty boxes until we forgave them?
I wish arrogance had monetary value. If it did, the U.S. State Dept would guarantee a trade surplus for the U.S. until the end of time.
The CIA chief is a really smart observer…!
… “defense partnership” and that such an arrangement threatens the US and its allies”
Think about this statement for a bit and ponder what it says about the US view of the rest of the world….
Batshit crazy Paranoid? Yes, it’s a possibility 😉
Defense can’t be about defense can it? No one can spend to defend themselves. No one can align with others to defend themselves. Those are exclusive to the US. And they aren’t EVER defensive when the US does it.
It is only logical when you think like the wunderkindergarten geniuses running tge country, US has deindustrialized and its inly economy is renteer based financial schema. This a Gypsy rule appies: your money — your choice of music.
We are begotten to the owners of our economy. And this economy can only grow by more indebtedness. But the consumers have reached the limit, and so is what is left of teal economy. Thus, the state is the bortower if last resort, until new sources of borrowing is secured. Europe is milked throroughly, and has to dance to the tune demanding higher state indebtedness, whatever the excuse. Ukraine or any othet will do. But big ines are out of reach, China, Russia, India. Now Middle East is declaring its migration toEurasian econonomy. Most Asian
economies — other than Kirea and Jaoan — are offering only limitted nibbles.
Thus, decision to push Russia into war was so obvious. A trap only works if not obvious. Russia played its part perfectly. Tried every route to try preventing war. But it was prepared for it, and will clumb the ladder of escalation as needed. It is clearly a strategy of nerves, And tge longer it lasts it will reveal more and more how the world has realigned. All the indicatiins are already here. Washington is in lead, and is making calls. All gains will benefit Washington, and all losses its fault exclusively.
Overconfidence is in abundance. It is essentially all the countries with developmental aspirations that are against it. It is clear that US intends to use the well known colinial formula and not allowed anyone to develop beyond limits set by Washington.
Good.