Behind Frequent Visits to Moscow
Elaheh Koulayi believes that at the end of the day, Russians will seek their own national interests, not that of Iran.
Frequent visits to Russia by Israeli and Western diplomats have raised questions about Russia’s relations with Iran and the role it is going to play in Iran’s much-disputed nuclear program. Elaheh Koulayi, Tehran University professor and expert on Caucasian, Central Asian and Russian affairs has commented for Iranian Diplomacy:
Following the extensive changes after the collapse of Soviet Union, Russia’s Asia and Europe foreign policies underwent significant changes. The former superpower tried to revive its pre-dissolution role in Middle East and the Persian Gulf and influence the political developments of this region.
Hence, we witnessed a change in Russia’s relations with Middle East states from mid-1990s. Considerable were Russia-Israel ties, particularly after the wave of immigration to Israel by Russian Jews, who now –along with other Soviet Jews- form about one-fifth of Israel’s population.
This significant, influential population facilitated increasing ties between Russia and Israel. The bond was especially beneficial for Russia who viewed it as a way to expand and improve relations with the United States. With the same objective –improving ties with U.S.-, Russia has tried to perform an independent role against West through its foreign diplomacy. That has led it towards distinctive relations with Iran, particularly demonstrated in nuclear cooperation.
Russia’s backing of Iran amid West’s increasing pressures and formation of an international front against Iran’s nuclear program has made everyone aware of the significance of these relations for this country.
Iran’s outstanding geopolitical position, its regional weight and its influence in solving the United States’ Middle East problems have provided Russian diplomacy with a powerful tool. Russians have always taken advantage of the problems between Iran and the United States in their deals with the America.
In the current circumstances, when old worries are returning and Iran is under increasing pressure due to its nuclear program, Iran-Russia relations have attracted interest of the United States and its allies. Considering Iran’s role in the Middle East political developments, particularly the Arab-Israeli peace process, Iran’s relations with Russia will be traced with further care. That explains the frequent visits to Russia and efforts to convince this country to cooperate with West in its policies against Iran.
Recent years should have proved us that in the most sensitive field of cooperation with Iran, i.e. the nuclear program; Russians have naturally given the priority to their national interests and have weighted the loss and gain of cooperation with Iran and West.
Moscow adjusts its foreign diplomacy based on the benefits it can receive from Iran or the countries opposed to Iran’s behavior. It would not come as a surprise if Russians show tacit approval or remain silent against punitive measures carried out to submit Iran, despite all the naively optimistic predictions which believed it would back Iran and reject UN Security Council resolutions.
We should not ignore this reality that Western countries, particularly the United States and Israel, are ready to offer Russia incentives which would persuade it to change its behavior towards Iran. Meanwhile, let’s not forget about Russia’s concerns about Iran’s potential to establish stronger ties with Central Asian and Caucasian states.
Following the extensive changes after the collapse of Soviet Union, Russia’s Asia and Europe foreign policies underwent significant changes. The former superpower tried to revive its pre-dissolution role in Middle East and the Persian Gulf and influence the political developments of this region.
Hence, we witnessed a change in Russia’s relations with Middle East states from mid-1990s. Considerable were Russia-Israel ties, particularly after the wave of immigration to Israel by Russian Jews, who now –along with other Soviet Jews- form about one-fifth of Israel’s population.
This significant, influential population facilitated increasing ties between Russia and Israel. The bond was especially beneficial for Russia who viewed it as a way to expand and improve relations with the United States. With the same objective –improving ties with U.S.-, Russia has tried to perform an independent role against West through its foreign diplomacy. That has led it towards distinctive relations with Iran, particularly demonstrated in nuclear cooperation.
Russia’s backing of Iran amid West’s increasing pressures and formation of an international front against Iran’s nuclear program has made everyone aware of the significance of these relations for this country.
Iran’s outstanding geopolitical position, its regional weight and its influence in solving the United States’ Middle East problems have provided Russian diplomacy with a powerful tool. Russians have always taken advantage of the problems between Iran and the United States in their deals with the America.
In the current circumstances, when old worries are returning and Iran is under increasing pressure due to its nuclear program, Iran-Russia relations have attracted interest of the United States and its allies. Considering Iran’s role in the Middle East political developments, particularly the Arab-Israeli peace process, Iran’s relations with Russia will be traced with further care. That explains the frequent visits to Russia and efforts to convince this country to cooperate with West in its policies against Iran.
Recent years should have proved us that in the most sensitive field of cooperation with Iran, i.e. the nuclear program; Russians have naturally given the priority to their national interests and have weighted the loss and gain of cooperation with Iran and West.
Moscow adjusts its foreign diplomacy based on the benefits it can receive from Iran or the countries opposed to Iran’s behavior. It would not come as a surprise if Russians show tacit approval or remain silent against punitive measures carried out to submit Iran, despite all the naively optimistic predictions which believed it would back Iran and reject UN Security Council resolutions.
We should not ignore this reality that Western countries, particularly the United States and Israel, are ready to offer Russia incentives which would persuade it to change its behavior towards Iran. Meanwhile, let’s not forget about Russia’s concerns about Iran’s potential to establish stronger ties with Central Asian and Caucasian states.