Putin, Raisi and Their Common Enemy

In response to Russia’s buildup of troops on Ukraine’s border, the U.S. and its European partners have threatened crippling sanctions if Russia were to invade. As this situation evolves, another leader familiar with the cost of sanctions arrived in Russia on January 19: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. On this episode of CNA Talks, Iran expert Mike Connell and Russia analyst Julian Waller discuss the consequences of that meeting and its likely geopolitical impact.   Listener Note: In this episode, Iran Nuclear Deal and JCPOA are used interchangeably. CNA’s Mike Connell is an expert on the armed forces of Iran and Persian Gulf Security issues. Julian Waller is an analyst with CNA’s Russia Studies program.