The Criminal Activities that Underpin Russia and Iran’s Growing Alliance
A Talk by Aurora Ortega , Debra LaPrevotte , Kimberly Donovan and Prof. Mark N. Katz
About this Talk
Russia’s alliance with Iran has exponentially grown since the beginning of the war with Ukraine. From sanctions evasion to procurement networks, the criminal activities that underpin Russia and Iran’s growing cooperation are presenting unique challenges for policymakers, military officials, and law enforcement alike. While the U.S. and allied countries have provided Ukraine with military support and levied hundreds of economic and trade actions against Russia, Iran has enabled Moscow to undermine these international efforts via a combination of its criminal tradecraft, networks, and corrupt dealings. Meanwhile, the ripple effects of this alliance are beginning to be felt in the Middle East with Russia’s silent encroachment, and also worldwide due to the consequences of the dark fleet used by both Russia and Iran to evade sanctions.