Russians Favor Diplomacy
Use of force against Iran will further complicate regional affairs. Bahram Amir-Ahmadian, Iran-Russia affairs analyst
So far, Russia has followed an equivocal policy towards Iran. Naturally, Russians’ paramount concern is advancement of their national interests. Any measure towards Iran’s nuclear program fits within this framework. For Moscow, peace and security is in its borders is a must. Thus, domestic tensions of Iran or punitive measures (such as sanctions) against this country implemented by foreign powers are a loss for Russians as Iran’s major partner. That is why Russia has always supported a diplomatic approach that solves Iran’s problem with West via negotiations. However, other Five plus One members (five UN Security Council members and Germany) insist that Tehran agrees to their conditions.
Iran, on the other hand, has its own reasons –which bring frown to the face of Western countries. It clearly distrusts West and its promises for nuclear cooperation. Regarding national interests, Tehran is not ready to withdraw from its stance ad accept the solutions dictated by Five plus One. It set forward an alternative proposal which was rejected by the six world powers and made the problem further complicated.
It seems that Russians’ efforts to convince Tehran accept IAEA’s uranium exchange proposal is to justify their stance over future measures which will be enforced against Iran. Russians are trying to prove Tehran that they have done whatever it takes to break the impasse in a peaceful manner. While the deadline set by West has expired, Russians are trying to gain Iran’s positive response to IAEA proposal. Considering that the Christian World is at New Year holidays, Russians efforts seem to be more of a display.
Time and again Russians have stated that they do not want a nuclear Iran on their southern borders, thus their efforts to peacefully end the face-off between Iran and West via a peaceful approach. However, Iran and West seem to have no overlap in their solutions to the problem. It is not clear how and when this ever-worsening impasse will be over. Geopolitically, the stalemate has complicated regional affairs. However, no military option to the problem can be helpful as Afghanistan and Iraq stand in front of our eye as first-hand evidence.
Iran, on the other hand, has its own reasons –which bring frown to the face of Western countries. It clearly distrusts West and its promises for nuclear cooperation. Regarding national interests, Tehran is not ready to withdraw from its stance ad accept the solutions dictated by Five plus One. It set forward an alternative proposal which was rejected by the six world powers and made the problem further complicated.
It seems that Russians’ efforts to convince Tehran accept IAEA’s uranium exchange proposal is to justify their stance over future measures which will be enforced against Iran. Russians are trying to prove Tehran that they have done whatever it takes to break the impasse in a peaceful manner. While the deadline set by West has expired, Russians are trying to gain Iran’s positive response to IAEA proposal. Considering that the Christian World is at New Year holidays, Russians efforts seem to be more of a display.
Time and again Russians have stated that they do not want a nuclear Iran on their southern borders, thus their efforts to peacefully end the face-off between Iran and West via a peaceful approach. However, Iran and West seem to have no overlap in their solutions to the problem. It is not clear how and when this ever-worsening impasse will be over. Geopolitically, the stalemate has complicated regional affairs. However, no military option to the problem can be helpful as Afghanistan and Iraq stand in front of our eye as first-hand evidence.