Editorial: El Mundo

• Russia and Iran form an alliance against the West, exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East.
• Both countries have become international pariahs due to their militarism and have strengthened their ties to dodge sanctions.
• Moscow and Tehran seek to overthrow Western democracy to establish a new illiberal order.
• Putin and the regime of the ayatollahs have increased their strategic partnership, especially evident in their joint support of dictator Bashar Asad in Syria.
• Russia is using Iran in its campaign to destabilize Europe and the United States, increasing the risk of a total conflict in the Middle East.

Conclusion: Russia and Iran are using their growing alliance to challenge and destabilize the Western democratic order, increasing the potential for a conflict escalation in the Middle East.

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