On the eve of Putin’s visit to Iran, Pravda.Ru interviewed two major Middle East and Russian policy experts Marshall Goldman and Flynt Leverett. Marshall Goldman is Kathryn Wasserman Davis Professor of Russian Economics (Emeritus) at Wellesley College. Flynt Leverett is a Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation.

Pravda.Ru: How could you comment on Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iran?

Flynt Leverett: Since the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet Union, Iran has become an increasingly important regional partner for Russia—in terms of Islamic issues, the regional balance of power in Central Asia, economic relations, and energy. This trend has accelerated under President Putin, and his visit to Iran—the first by a Russian leader since Stalin attended the Tehran summit with Roosevelt and Churchill during World War II—reflects that. ...

Pravda.Ru: Do you think Putin's visit to Iran will raise concerns with the U.S. administration?

Flynt Leverett: Undoubtedly, the Bush Administration is concerned about the Putin visit on many levels, including its timing and what it may signify about Russia's willingness to apply further sanctions against Iran through the United Nations Security Council. ...

Pravda.Ru: Do you think Russia and Iran intend to strengthen their relations against the background of U.S.A.'s intentions to attack Iran?

Flynt Leverett: President Putin and other Russian officials are clearly concerned about the risk that the Bush Administration will once again pursue a course of unilateral military action - as it did in Iraq - to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue. I believe that this concern is valid - there is indeed a risk that the United States will pursue a unilateral military course against Iran. One way in which Moscow can try to raise the prospective costs to the United States of unilateral military action - and position Russia for strategic gains if the United States is foolish enough to pursue this course -is by strengthening Russian ties to the Islamic Republic. ...