Nothing is scarier for EU states (not the US) than the Russian Tyrant now backed by not just its own but also a large and effective Iranian military Industrial complex. An energy and industrial power at the Russian back is something more dangerous than the USSR on its own ever was for the EU so they never want this.
The fact you think Russia today + Iran is stronger than the USSR at its peak is absolutely insane and shows a lack of historical awareness.
And energy power? iran? On what basis?
It’s energy (oil production) is a fraction of what it was during Shah era. It’s energy fields lay decrepit needing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments.
While it’s a top 5 producer in natural gas….it’s mostly consume by its own domestic population, not even a top 12 exporter in natural gas. It has no LNG facilities.
Iran isn’t an “energy” power anymore than Venezuela is an energy power. They have energy reserves (massive ones) but don’t have the foreign capital or the tech to adequately exploit them.
Stalin was scarier for Europe
Hitler was scarier for Europe
Negative population growth is scarier for Europe
Iran is not scary for Europe. We need to not kid ourselves.
Russia and Iran are not fully strategically aligned yet, so the EU still has a lucrative chance to pull Iran out of the Russian grip. I say our leadership has pulled a smart move here to show the EU how much dangerous Iran can be at a global strategic level if it's not respected as a rising powerhouse.
Europeans don’t want to be friends with you. Americans don’t want to be friends with you. What don’t you people get? They will never see you as their equal. They wouldn’t even see the Christian White Russians you think some brown Muslim Iranians are going to be recognized by the Anglo Saxon nations? Come on.
You guys will sign a deal then get backstabbed because the West wants you gone. They want Russia gone. They want China gone. And they will take their time even if it takes 100+ years. They will slowly chip away at the fabric of your society and try 100 different ways to eventually weaken you and sway you to become their satellite, just like they did to Ukraine, a 35 year project. Just like they did to Japan. Just like they did to Germany/Austria. Just like they did to [south] Korea. Just like they did to Iraq/Libya.
Russia and Iran are not fully strategically aligned yet, so the EU still has a lucrative chance to pull Iran out of the Russian grip. I say our leadership has pulled a smart move here to show the EU how much dangerous Iran can be at a global strategic level if it's not respected as a rising powerhouse. They can talk to Iran, and offer it something to keep it out of the Russian alignment otherwise next time some 2000 Almas, some 400 Kheibar-Shikans/Fattah HGVs, some SAM Missile-358 or Majid AD will find their way into Russian hands.
Go ahead and supply it. 2000 Alma’s won’t turn the war anymore than the 10,000+ ATGMs US supplied didn’t turn the war. Or the F-16’s. Or the cruise missiles, or the patriots or the other 75B+ in arms they got. You will not win an arms race with NATO + US, USSR went bankrupt trying to do it.
400 missiles is laughable. Go see how much munitions Russia drops on Ukraine, how many cruise missiles, how many BMs. 400 is like pissing straight into the wind. They fire 10,000+ artillery shells a day alone.
One massive factor behind JCPOA was keeping Iran out of the Russian influence if we connect it with the timeline of Donbass conflict. Now the stakes are 20 times higher.
JCPOA was one man (Obama) trying to restart the slate. The world has changed so much since 2015.
Iran, Russia, and China are radioactive. There is political desire to negotiate with these powers only domination even if it takes decades.
Don’t be naive. Under Obama they told Russia they were placing missile interceptors in Poland to intercept “Iranian BMs” which was just an elaborate excuse to continue the Russia weakening project and moving more chess pieces into place. Putin knew it, but was too stubborn to make the necessary sacrifices. Again in 2014 he fell for their lies when Merkel convinced him to sign the Minsk accords when Russian forces were steamrolling a post revolution Ukraine army.
And what happened? US and NATO trained Ukraine to get ready for this current war and now Russia is stuck in quagmire just like Iran was stuck in Iran-Iraq war.
Will Putin drink the poisoned chalice and come to negotiating table just like Khomeini did after a fruitless decision to continue the war?
We shall see. But make no mistake, iran and Russia are labeled for deletion. Don’t make the same mistake Ghaddafi and Saddam and other did thinking you can be friends with them. You are in their way to world domination. Only 3 countries remain: Russia, China, and Iran. They will be eliminated one way or another if the US has their way.