Mikhail Gorbachev died on August 30, 2022, at the age of 91. His death prompted a wide range of reactions around the world, from admiration and gratitude to criticism and reflection. Regardless of differing opinions, his impact on the late twentieth century is undeniable, as he played a central role in reshaping international relations and ending one of the most tense geopolitical rivalries in modern history.
The following is a glimpse of Tehran-Moscow relations in that tumultuous decade, based on Rafsanjani’s diaries from 1986 to 1971. In his own telling at least, Rafsanjani appears to have strained to preserve good relations – and closed the deal despite last-minute obstacles – after a slight on Moscow by ageing then-Supreme Leader Khomeini. In the years that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev’s influence within Russia declined significantly, even as his international reputation remained strong.
