The Balance of Threat and Alliance(A Historical-Comparative Account of Iran-Russia Relation)

In the course of the last five centuries Iran’s relations with Russia has been a critical mixed blessing; it has both been the source of grave threats against Iran and, on some occasions, it has provided a basis for cooperation and a platform on which alliances could be formed to ward off common threats. The current article is an attempt to take stock of the developments in Iran-Russia relations in order to lay the theoretical groundwork for better understanding nowadays’ relations and future perspective. The author seeks to find answer to the question as to how could Iran-Russia relations during the past centuries be assessed from a realist point of view? what future is conceivable based on a realist perspective? and, what are the most important factors bearing upon the relation in this historical period? The methodology has been informed by a grand scheme and an ideational, historical, comparative and analytical approach to major periods of the history of relations between the two countries; the focus, needless to say, has been on the periods that matter to Iran-Russia relations.