Sputnik- Any attempts on the part of Washington and its Persian Gulf allies to drive a wedge between Moscow and Tehran in the Middle East will prove futile, Iranian political analyst Reza Moghaddasi told Sputnik. Moghaddasi underscored that the Russo-Iranian relationship has gone beyond a mere political alliance.


Washington's attempts to�create an anti-Iran Arab alliance in�the Middle East won't undermine the Russo-Iranian strategic partnership, Iranian political analyst and former director of�Mehr News Agency Reza Moghaddasi emphasized in�his interview with Sputnik Persian.


It was reported last week that the Trump administration has allegedly considered the idea of�forming an Israel-friendly anti-Iran Arab defense pact on�the basis of�the Saudi-led coalition intervening in�Yemen.

Citing Middle Eastern officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on�February 15 that the alliance would include such countries as�Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan.

Previously, US President Donald Trump dubbed Iran "the number one terrorist state."


I don't know Putin, have no deals in�Russia, and the haters are going crazy�� yet Obama can make a deal with�Iran, #1 in�terror, no problem!



��Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2017

?In response, the Kremlin signaled that it does not agree with�the US approach.

"We do not agree with�this approach," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "We have cooperated on�a range of�issues [with Iran]. We value our trade and economic ties which, we hope, will further develop."
Speaking to�the broadcaster Al Mayadeen on�Sunday, Iranian Parliament Chair Ali Larijani highlighted that "Iran strives for�a strategic partnership with�Russia in�the [Middle East]."


According to�Moghaddasi, this move on�the part of�Tehran is justified.
"The strategic alliance between�Iran and Russia, which is forming as�a result of�close cooperation, is not just a response to�the US challenge of�creating an anti-Iranian military alliance with�Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and possibly other countries. The Russo-Iranian strategic relationship goes beyond�that," Moghaddasi told Sputnik.


The political analyst pointed out�that the Syrian crisis had accelerated the Russo-Iranian rapprochement, which subsequently has evolved into�a real strategic alliance.


"Although the Syrian issue has long been a centerpiece of�this interaction [between Iran and Russia], there are also a number of�other issues which remain a high priority for�the two countries. These are economic and energy issues as�well as�military development cooperation. Therefore, this relationship should be viewed as�something more than�just a political alliance," Moghaddasi underscored.

To illustrate his point, the Iranian analyst referred to�the "brilliant victory" won by�the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), backed by�Russian and Iranian military forces, in�the Syrian city of�Aleppo.
"Naturally enough, when two countries become strategic allies in�the military field, this cooperation could be expanded into�other spheres," he noted.


Moghaddasi drew attention to�the fact that "many countries" keep trying to�drive a wedge between�Tehran and Moscow.


He stressed that "a lot of�petrodollars" have already been spent by�Arab monarchies to�undermine the Russo-Iranian alliance. However, their attempts have proved futile, the Iranian analyst stressed.

"I think that Russia realizes that it plays a positive role in�resolving Middle Eastern conflicts and continues to�move forward," Moghaddasi said.

In this context, US attempts to�form a sort of�anti-Iranian military alliance in�the Middle East are unlikely to�ruin the Russo-Iranian partnership, he stressed.
"Today we see lots of�failed attempts to�create a unipolar world. The balance of�power is being restored. New powers and alliances have emerged on�the global arena. The strength of�Iran, Russia and our allies is increasing," the Iranian political analyst noted.


Commenting on�Trump's harsh rhetoric toward�Iran, Russian political analyst Alexander Kazakov suggested that Trump is "most likely worried about�the emerging triangle, comprising Russia, Turkey and Iran."
"There is nothing surprising about�it. This triangle will de facto control the situation in�the Middle East. The United States has been present in�the region for�a long time and has no intention of�withdrawing. This is why this triangle is a serious issue for�the US," Kazakov explained in�his interview with�Sputnik in�early February.


Meanwhile, Iran, Russia and Turkey continue to�secure the ceasefire in�Syria which was established on�December 30, 2016.

The countries brokered the Astana talks on�Syria in�January 2017, bringing together the Syrian government and armed opposition for�the first time since�the beginning of�the conflict. The talks resulted in�an agreement to�implement a trilateral mechanism to�monitor the Syrian truce.
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