RUSSIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS AT THE PRESENT STAGE: PROSPECTS AND POTENTIAL RISKS

Since the beginning of 2022, relations between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran have intensified, directly affecting all areas of cooperation between the two countries. In addition to the general positive trend starting in 2012, the Ukrainian crisis and the subsequent sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation by the European Union, the United States and others, which have significantly limited the political circle of Russia's engagement, have become the main drivers of the development of mutual relations between Russia and Iran. On the one hand, improving relations with Iran relatively mitigates the impact of the sanctions measures, however, on the other hand, it deprives Russia of diplomatic flexibility, which could have an extremely negative impact on relations with potential allies in the Middle East and the rest of the world.