Russia Aids Iran's Regional Network to Counter US Influence
Russia is reportedly assisting Yemen's Houthi rebels amid Iran's weakening regional standing, a move analysts suggest is aimed at diminishing U.S. influence in the Middle East. According to reports, Iran mediated secret talks between Russia and the Houthis concerning advanced anti-ship missiles. In return, Russian entities have considered selling arms to the militia.
Senior fellow at the Washington Institute, Anna Borshchevskaya, posits that Russia can offer support to Iran's regional network without risking direct military confrontation with the United States. She notes that Russia has a strong incentive to prevent the weakening of Iran and its allies, as the worst-case scenario for Moscow would be Iran aligning more closely with the West, sidelining Russia as a partner against Washington.
Iran's regional network faces significant pressure, including the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Hezbollah's losses against Israel, and ongoing economic and military strain on Iran itself. Borshchevskaya suggests Russia's past support for the Houthis serves as a model for how Moscow can aid Iran and sustain its allies, particularly if Tehran's resources become more limited. This support, she argues, could complicate U.S. efforts to weaken Iran by undermining its ability to fund and supply its regional partners.
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones, while Russia has provided Iran with military technology, including assistance in developing hypersonic cruise missile technology. Borshchevskaya points to Syria as an example of both the limitations of Iranian influence and Russia's ability to maintain its position after regional upheaval. Following Iran's reduced military presence in Syria after Assad's fall, Russia maintained ties with the Syrian government and negotiated to preserve its own reduced footprint. While there is little evidence that Moscow is fully shouldering the financial burden of Iran's regional network, the support already provided to the Houthis demonstrates a potential mechanism for Russia to help maintain parts of that network.
