Washington Free Beacon senior writer Adam Kredo joined Liz Wheeler of One America News Network on Wednesday night to discuss the growing partnership between Iran and Russia.
"The Iranians and the Russians have been growing closer for quite some time after this landmark nuclear deal that was largely backed by Russia," Kredo said. "They almost immediately began arm sales–that is, boosting missile defense, the s-300 [missile] system, other things."
Kredo added that the Russians are moving into Iran to build new nuclear reactors and to help Tehran build up its armory of offensive and defensive weaponry, including more advanced missile defense systems.
"Essentially, this is a ploy by the Russians. They do it intentionally to counter U.S. action in the region. That is the U.S. in Iraq, that is the U.S. in Syria, and elsewhere, and for a long time it spooked our allies, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia," Kredo said.
Wheeler said that something does not add up with Russia's strategy, arguing that while many congressional Democrats claim Russian President Vladimir Putin is the puppet master of President Trump, Moscow is becoming an ally with Iran, whose leaders called the United States "the Great Satin."
Later in the interview, Wheeler called out the Obama administration for being "naive" to think it could trust Iran to uphold the nuclear deal based on the country's track record.
"This is the nation, Iran, by the way that uses their civilian airports, their civilian passenger jets to carry weapons and money to use them militarily," Wheeler said. "Who on Earth in their right mind would trust Iran to be using a nuclear reactor for a civilian-only purpose, not to be using the leftovers in it for some kind of military weaponry purpose?"
Wheeler asked Kredo why Russia would forge an alliance with Iran, which prompted Kredo to say that it is a "partnership of convenience." Kredo said that Russia sees its alliance with Iran as a strategic move and does not necessarily care or believe in Iran's radical agenda.
"From the side of the Iranians, they get weapons, they get money, their business and their economy is open, and their military is boosted. So for the Iranians, they covet this relationship much, much more," Kredo said.
"I think these two are in it for the long haul for quite a few years down the road," Kredo concluded.