It actually serves Russia's interest to have Iran there because they learned from Afghanistan and from our experience in Iraq that they, themselves, do not want to be on the ground.
Nuland explains Russia's strategy of using Iran to maintain influence without direct involvement.
Share
More from Victoria Nuland
The Defense Department makes precisely the same points to our Turkish allies at every opportunity.
No American taxpayer dollars went to Iran to get our five American citizens and two family members home.
We and our partners continue to make clear to the warring parties led by these two generals that there can be no military solution to this crisis and negotiations are the only way forward.