Thats not all Russia has trained 10,000+ Iranians in advanced warfare systems since 1996.

Oil, Russia has lots of it but needs to sell it on the market to make money, to make ends meet for their own consumpsion they barttar with Iran, be it Military or Nuclear. Mind you I doubt Russia wants an nuclear power in the Middle East, that would weaken it's already cracked sphere of infulence.

Its not that they want it. Its just that its in their interest if they want to gain superpower status. A nuclear Iran would be a very influential and powerful proxy for limiting the influence of the United States. Think of this as Putins retaliation for the wave of orange revolutions.

I see no way of Russia keeping Iran on a leash, for long any way Putin is playing a dangerous game a nuclear Iran could need to nuclear materials in Chechnya.

>>>I see no way of Russia keeping Iran on a leash<<< ---Its a pact with the devil. The Russians see loss of influence as more of an immediate threat and are willing to deal with the future, in the future. This is not unlike the way the US delt with Afghanistan/Pakistan to stop the Russians and abandoned them after the Cold War. The Consequenses are obvious with hindsight.

I see no way of Russia keeping Iran on a leash<<< ---"Its a pact with the devil. The Russians see loss of influence as more of an immediate threat and are willing to deal with the future, in the future. This is not unlike the way the US delt with Afghanistan/Pakistan to stop the Russians and abandoned them after the Cold War. The Consequenses are obvious with hindsight." Darth Hmmmm. I recognize that theory.