how does puppetmaster pooty-poot feel about it? I think he'd be none too keen on war and instability so close to Mother Russia. There's also the matter of economic interests, so I'd expect Russia to whisper in tRump's ear to leave Iran the fuck alone.

And still tends to try to keep really close ties with those territories.

One of those territories in Lebanon.

Another is Syria.

Like Russia, it tries to be a player in the ME and in Africa. This is less about Syria, Iran, and Lebanon or even about the US, than it is about France.

The US is also imposing sanctions on Russia and on Venezuela. Oddly, these are two of Iran's allies.

with echoes of distant French imperialism in the general neighbourhood.

...its plausible. The Saudi royals purge/coup, the moves with Israel's capital to catalyze Hamas and Hezbollah, and the settlement of Syria to Russia's liking seem like indicators. I think Iran is the odd-man out, and that Putin would sell them out to US, Israel and KSA as Iran is nothing but a strategic Eurasian competitor to Russia in the long-term.

I believe it, no doubt the "uprising" in Iran is a produced "color revolution".

Nothing is more important to MIC and Republicans than keeping fear alive to feed a $650,000,000, 000 per year monster.