Anti-Russian Sentiments Are Understandable
Let’s look at one of the instances closer to our days: the time of Dr. Mosaddeq’s premiership when Russia owed Iran eleven tons of gold as its war debt. Iran’s treasury was a void and Britain was pressuring it politically and economically. Soviet Union could support Iran but repaying the debt, but it refrained.
The gold could have helped considering Iran’s limited problems, low population and few infrastructures at those years. But surprisingly, Soviet Union paid back the debt after the coup which overthrew Mosaddeq, months after the agent of the coup d’etat LtGen Zahedi rose to premiership.
The story of 19th of August, the day the coup against Dr. Mosaddeq was launched, may be more interesting. When leaders of the communist Toudeh Party was asked about their apathy during the coup -despite well-built political and military structure- all they answered was: we wanted to step in, but the Soviet embassy deferred it every time! If a nationalistic, caring mentality commanded the Toudeh Party –I’m not saying chauvinistic but nationalistic- then there would be no need to ask permission from the Russians. Toudeh was a party with a leader and a well-defined, extended organization. Why should they wait for Soviet ambassador’s authorization to counter the coup and serve the interests of their country?
After the revolution, soviets made all-out efforts to cooperate with a political structure which had the least ideological affinity with them. Why would an anti-religion regime try to be partners with a totally religious establishment? Weren’t they having a plan in mind? Of course quite soon the Islamic Republic found out their intentions and cracked down on their puppets.
Today we are eyewitnesses of Iran-Russia relations and we sympathize with those who are suspicious of Russia. What has happened that when Friday prayers loudspeakers chant ’death to America’ people respond with ’death to Russia’ even parodying the tone?
And let’s look at the Caspian Sea, an economic and strategic reserve. Russia’s approach and our questionable handling of such issues have led to anti-Russian slogans.
May be there are secrets we don’t know about otherwise why is Russia strangleholding us? Serving Russian and Chinese with the excuse of forming an Eastern camp against West will not fulfill our national interests but just shows our shortsightedness.
When the Soviet Union broke up, Central Asian republics which were all a part of civilizational sphere of influence were craving to readopt Iranian traditions and culture. It was the ripest time for us to reconnect and revive the dormant shared culture. They had opened their arms but we turned our back. When they asked for works of Persian literature we sent them Arab literature. We sent them Qurans while they were asking for something they had missed for ages.
Unfortunately we did not follow national policies in Central Asia and failed to become a cultural hub for them. Instead, we supported non-progressive ideologies. Turkey was the big winner of this game which promoted its schools and media in these countries. We see nowadays that to know the new culture and civilization, Tajiks –who have Iranian roots-, turn towards schools founded by Turkey.
Either during the age of tsars, the Soviet era or the present nominally democratic regime, Russians have always acted against Iran’s interests.