People are asking if Putin has been defeated by the Iran deal. Of course, the deal will deliver yet another blow to Russia’s economy, but here’s the problem: Putin has never cared about this kind of thing.
In reality, the deal is a big win for him.
First of all, he achieved his greatest motivational dream that inspires everything he does: Americans asked for his permission to do the deal. Kerry lowered himself to traveling to Sochi and asking like a supplicant. This is what Putin lives for. What does he care about the economic well-being of Russians when he can finally get his heart’s greatest desire?
Also, Putin is very favorably inclined towards the Irani leadership. He likes Iran’s history of defying the US and winning. He shares Iran’s authoritarianism, likes the usefulness of religious fundamentalism, admires the subjection of women and gays, and enjoys the anti-Israel rhetoric. Any win for a regime of such a great affinity to Putin’s is pleasing to Russia’s leader.
This is a good moment for Putin right now. He has demonstrated to the world that he can do anything he wants, bomb, annex, invade, excoriate the US, and Americans will still come hat in hand, humbly begging for his support. He always articulated very clearly that this was his only goal.
None of this means that the Iran deal is a bad idea. But we need to understand what is actually happening if we are to have any impact on the world.
P.S. I don’t know if I need to mention this, but I don’t come up with these posts on my own. I read a lot of articles by political analysts who specialize in Russia before I reach any conclusion. I hate simplistic, knee-jerk responses to any complex phenomenon.
Clarissa's Blog 
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds force commander recently traveled to Moscow, in violation of a UN travel ban, to visit with Putin and discuss the delivery of Russian S-300 missiles to Iran.
According to Mike Rogers, former chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
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blockquote>We should not underestimate what this means to our national security. . . . A leading general in Iran just told the world that the United States of America is irrelevant and Russia welcomed him with open arms. Not only do Russia and Iran not fear us, they do not respect us. And that, is dangerous.
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blockquote>
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All true. Putin will do absolutely anything to show his defiance of the US. There is literally nothing more important to him in the world.
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Sadly, Putin seems to be on the “right side of history.” Russia, along with all other member nations of P5+1, are lining up to trade with Iran and reinstating effective sanctions would be virtually impossible.
Meanwhile, Iran claims that no IAEA inspectors will be permitted in any military sites and, apparently, that they will also be barred from even non-military Uranium enrichment sites. Iran also claims that the “details” of inspections will not be disclosed.
Kerry, Moniz and other Obama administration officials testifying before the Congress, who claim not to have seen the pertinent “secret deals” between Iran and the IAEA but to have been fully briefed and to know “everything” they say, declined on the basis of confidentiality to testify as to what they think they “know” about them other than that all well. As far as I know, they have not disputed the interpretations placed upon them by high Iranian officials.
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