Israeli official says now’s the time to drive wedge between Russia, Iran

An Israeli official says that Russia may be turning on Iran in Syria, and will seek to “change fundamentally the strategic situation” in the war-torn country, where Iranian forces have been seeking to establish a foothold.

“My assessment is that the Russians are interested in stabilizing their achievements in Syria,” Intelligence Ministry Director General Chagai Tzuriel tells Britain’s Telegraph.

“I think they understand that if the Iranians continue on the present course, this will lead to escalation and will blow their plans out of the water,” he says.

His comments are published hours after the Russian foreign minister said that only Syria should be allowed to place soldiers near the southern borders with Israel and Jordan.

They also followed comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu to the effect that Iran should be ousted entirely from Syria.

Tzuriel is quoted as saying that recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria against Iranian and regime targets are driving a wedge between Iran and Russia. Also contributing to that tension, he says, is the US’s recent withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

“I think this is a moment pregnant with opportunity. My assessment is that the situation we’re in is an opportune moment to try to change fundamentally the strategic situation,” he is quoted as saying.