For a long time, Russia and Iran, despite their ideological and political differences, managed to cooperate in the face of shared challenges and sanctions from the West. However, recent events surrounding the Zangezur corridor have brought deep-seated tensions between Moscow and Tehran to the surface. Iran has grown increasingly frustrated with Russia’s actions in the South Caucasus, where Moscow’s expanding influence threatens Tehran’s strategic interests. This has led to a complicated diplomatic showdown, with former allies now finding themselves acting more like rivals.