Abstract

The Middle East region made substantial influence on the development of the international politics during the «cold war». After the dissolution of the bipolar system importance of the region was only increased, though transformed. Foreign policy of the United States of America and the Russian Federation towards the Middle East was also modified according both to the changes in their internal developments and in the international arena. Gradually two main issues, namely the Arab-Israeli conflict and nuclear program of Tehran, has dominated the agenda of the US and Russia foreign policy towards the region and their bilateral relationships. Thus, the main aim of the presented article is to investigate foreign policy of the United States of America and the Russian Federation towards Israel and Iran in the period of post-bipolar system of international relations. Special attention in the article is given to the issue of interrelation between the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and implementation of the nuclear program of Tehran in the context of dynamic developments in the Middle East. The author shows evolution of the foreign policy of the US and Russia towards Iran and Israel for the last twenty years, displaying elements of cooperation and confrontation. In the last part of the article particular attention is drawn to the impact of the Arab Spring on the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region and its growing ambitions to execute more influence there, which might redefine security system not only in the Middle East, but can pose serious threats and challenges to the European security and international security. Taking into consideration above-mentioned, possible ways of cooperation in the region between the US and Russia, whose security interests are very much interconnected, are indicated.