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Nooshabeh Amiri

Elaheh Koolaee is a member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front's central committee. In an ‎exclusive interview with Rooz, Koolaee comments on the future of relations between Iran and ‎Russia. Below is an excerpt from this interview.‎

Rooz (R): What is your analysis on Putin's trip to Tehran and the significance of this visit?‎

Elahe Koolaee (EK): Putin's trip to Tehran takes place at a time when, for over than a decade ‎now, Russia has reformulated its foreign policy. Today, despite the tendency of the immediate ‎post-Soviet era of dealing predominantly with the West, we see that Russia is gradually ‎expanding ties to countries in Asia, in particularly the Middle East and Islamic societies. It is ‎within this framework that Russia's cooperation with Iran over the nuclear program begins in the ‎mid-1990s. We see that Russia is gradually trying to implement an independent foreign policy. ‎Therefore, at this time, and given that Russia, under Putin, has differences with Europe and the ‎United States, Putin's trip to Tehran is a symbol of Russia's independence. Furthermore, the trip ‎takes place at a time when the West has increased pressuring Iran, so in a way the Russians want ‎to show the Americans that they pursue their own national interests in drafting their foreign ‎policy. ‎

‎(R): Do these interests correspond to Iran's interests?‎

‎(EK): Without a doubt. Iran and Russia are neighbor countries that, because of their proximity, ‎and shared history, can and must pursue shared interests. In effect, geography and economic ‎logic suggests that these two countries keep positive and progressive relations. But, right now, ‎when the United States and Europe have increased pressuring Iran, obviously this cooperation is ‎more necessary…‎

‎(R): Under these circumstances, if we, in your opinion, look at the issue through the lens of ‎Russia's interests, given the constraints of domestic and foreign policies, do you think in the end ‎Russia will choose the Islamic Republic or the West? ‎

‎(EK): Like all countries in the world, the Russians formulate their policies with an eye to their ‎own interests. Even though expanding relations, both on an international and a regional level, ‎has many benefits for Iran and Russia, we cannot forget at the same time that Russia can reap ‎many benefits by cooperating with the United States and Europe. Therefore, when the time to ‎choose comes, the Russians will undoubtedly focus on expanding their relations with Europe and ‎the United States. ‎

‎(R): Do you think Russia will complete the Bushehr project?‎

‎(EK): I do not think that the Russians will be willing to complete the final stages before Iran ‎settles its issues with Western countries, and the United States in particular. Therefore, like ‎many other issues, the Bushehr project will also be influenced by the importance of Russia's ‎relations with America. It seems that the Russians are using this opportunity more to satisfy ‎their own interests and gain concessions, rather than to protect our interests and needs. ‎