Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, and Ebrahim Raisi, his Iranian counterpart, have a number of issues in widespread. Each belong to a tiny group of leaders personally focused by American sanctions. Though neither travels a lot, each have been to China lately. And each appear more and more fond of each other. In December they met within the Kremlin to debate the struggle in Gaza. On March 18th Mr Raisi was fast to congratulate Mr Putin on his “decisive” election victory.
