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Emil Avdaliani

The new China-Iran agreement prompts as many questions as answers. One thing is clear: China has taken action at a time when the U.S. is winding down its presence in the Middle East.
As time goes on, China will find it increasingly difficult to stay above the Mideast fray, leading to increased instability in its relationship with the United States.
The Syrian theater exemplifies Russo-Iranian cooperation, but there are other theaters in which Moscow and Tehran have cooperated for years.
As competition grows more intense between the United States and China, Moscow must assess which side will do more to help it solve its problems across the former Soviet space.
To contain this immense geographic sphere, Russian leaders have had to expend enormous financial, military, and political resources.