The view in Moscow as a consequence of the Iranian conflict is that this administration does not believe that Russia is a priority.

They don't have respect for Russian power, and they're not interested in normalization of relations.

And that is not the deep state that rises to the very top.

The forces tell CBS News Russia is providing intelligence to Iran about U.S. positions in the Middle East.

The U.S. has temporarily lifted its sanctions on oil produced in Russia.

As Iran fights for its survival, questions abound about the role that Russia is playing.

Is Moscow helping Tehran to counter U.S. and Israeli airstrikes?

Does Russia see the closure of the Strait of her moves as serving its interests?

And what does Operation Epic Fury mean for the war in Ukraine and the future of U.S.-Russian relations?

From the Council on Foreign Relations, welcome to the president's inbox. I'm Jim Lindsay.

Joining me today is Thomas Graham, distinguished fellow here at the

council. Tom, thank you very much for joining me. Glad to be with you. Tom, there has been a lot of

talk in recent years about the rise of the so-called access of autocracy as Russia cooperates

with China, Iran, and North Korea. I want to focus our conversations

on the Russia-Iran nexus. And I was hoping you could sort of start off by helping me understand

the nature of relationship between Moscow and Tehran. Are they allies? Are they frenemies? Are they something else?

Yeah, frenemies is probably the best term at this point. Russia and Iran have had a complicated

relationship for centuries. They've been rivals in the Caucasus, in the Caspian region. That

continued up until very, very recently with the

deterioration and relations between both Russia and Iran. They drew closer after 2014,

this is after Russia annexed Crimea, the break with the West.

Both countries, perhaps among the most heavily sanctioned by the United States and the world.

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