"The West is interested to undermine the sovereignty of the IRI through a
chain of events and economic/political/diplomatic pressure. The same, they do
against Russia. So it is also another reason why we must be united in one
front,” Leonid Savin told the Tasnim News Agency.
Savin is the head of the Administration of the International Social Movement
"Eurasian Movement”. He is also the editor-in-chief of "Geopolitika” magazine as
well as Geopolitica.ru. Furthermore, Savin, the author of several books on
geopolitics, is the director of the social-political research programs in
Russia’s Institute of Economics and Legislation.
Following is the full text of the interview:
Tasnim: Senior Iranian official Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati has conveyed a message
from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei to Russian
President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow. Following the meeting, Dr.
Velayati described his discussions with the Russian president as "highly
constructive, transparent and friendly.” Iran’s Leadership has long viewed
relations with Moscow as "strategic,” he said.What does "strategic cooperation”
with Russia mean?
Savin: Strategic issues are not obvious, as it may seem. For example, Russia
has many different strategies that were released in form of doctrinal documents.
However, they are only on paper and the most important thing is their practical
realization. In the strategy of national security released after 2008, we can
read that Russia can use military power to protect Russian citizens abroad, but
this option was never used.
Theoretically, there are frames for practical implementation in Syria and
Ukraine, but in reality military works in another way.
But Iran and the region of Western Asia also marked in a few latest doctrinal
papers of the Russian Federation. Russia pays a lot of attention to this area,
especially for security. And it is one of the reasons for Russian military
presence in Syria. Cooperation in Oil/gas sector, but also nuclear energy is
also an important line for cooperation with Iran. And of course, attempts to
build a multipolar world order without the hegemony of the US is one of the
geopolitical goals of Russia that was also confirmed in strategic papers and
personally by statements of Russian officials.
In this context, Russian-Iranian cooperation is very important. Any initiatives
in trade, business, culture, and tourism that will bring our countries closer to
each other more will be appreciated.
Tasnim: Velayati also quoted Putin as hailing the oil cooperation between
Iran and Russia, saying Russia has announced readiness to make investment as
high as $50 billion in Iran’s oil and gas industry, and that Russian firms could
replace the western companies that have left Iran. Do you believe that it is
time that Russia, Iran and China should form a separate economic front against
US hegemony?
Savin: Yes, it is possible and it is an imperative. This triangle also can
form a new Eurasian orbit and add to it more actors who have suffered from
Western influence and are looking for an alternative. For example, Turkey and
Pakistan. We see that the US is interested to impose more sanctions against Iran
and it has started many anti-Iranian projects in the EU too. The West is
interested to undermine the sovereignty of the IRI through a chain of events and
economic/political/diplomatic pressure. The same, they do against Russia. So it
is also another reason why we must be united in one front.
Tasnim: As you know, this year’s NATO meeting comes ahead of Trump’s direct
meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday. What do you think about this
meeting?
Savin: The NATO military alliance is slowly nearing its end and it needs
fresh blood (new members) as well as the justification of its own existence. Now
we can see more bureaucracy and budget (military companies) interests there that
focus on Euro-Atlantic security. But the Helsinki meeting has nothing to do with
the NATO summit. Firstly, Russia has enough strong army and its logistics and
infrastructure are far better than the NATO. Secondly, Putin and Trump will
discuss bilateral relations and Syria. What I can say from previous
observation is that Donald Trump is unpredictable. He can tell and propose some
good ideas, but then change his mind. So let see what people around him would
say. I think it is the reason Trump finally supported NATO - Mattis, Bolton and
other high ranked decision makers still follow old clichés. And unfortunately,
there are many Russophobes and many Iranophobes.
Source: Tasnim