In a panel discussion at Rossiya Segodnya's Center of International Journalism on Thursday, Elena Dunaeva, senior researcher at the Center for the Study of the Middle East Institute of Oriental Studies, noted that along with their economic partnership, Russia and Iran are also partners in the fight against the spread of radical Islamic terrorism.Elena Viktorovna, onJanuary 19, Russian Minister ofDefense Sergei Shoigu visited Tehran. How would you assess the state ofRussian-Iranian relations inthe sphere ofmilitary-technical cooperation?
Elena Dunaeva:Recently contacts betweenMoscow and Tehran have intensified. Within the last year alone, the presidents ofthe two countries have held four rounds oftalks, ashave the heads ofvarious ministries and departments. The visit byDefense Minister Shoigu is merely a confirmation ofthe fact that Russia and the Islamic Republic ofIran are aiming tobring bilateral relations toa new, higher level.
Military-technical cooperation has always been a significant component ofour economic ties. It was the spark forthe restoration ofrelations betweenthe USSR and Iran followingthe Islamic Revolution of1979. Since then Moscow and Tehran have successfully realized several major contracts.
At the same time we have so far refused tosupply Iran withour most advanced anti-aircraft missile systems.
Elena Dunaeva:Yes, 2010 was a year ofthe sharp decline inbilateral relations. By joining the international sanctions ofthe UN Security Council againstIran's nuclear program, Russia decided torefuse toprovide the country withthe S-300 PMU-1 anti-aircraft missile systems, despiteagreeing tosupply them ina contract signed in2007. And, although foreign and Russian experts have conclusively proven that these SAM systems are not offensive weapons referred tounder Resolution 1929, the problem is yet tobe resolved.
Unfortunately, this decision onthe part ofMoscow has cast doubts onIran's confidence inRussia, and resulted inits appeal tothe international courts. Russia returned the advance payment toIran, and offered toresolve the conflict byproviding the country withother, similar systems. Today the resolution ofthe problem is the subject ofdiplomatic negotiations. It is possible that it was one ofthe issues discussed byShoigu inTehran. It must be kept inmind that Russian-Iranian military-technical cooperation is limited bythe conditions ofsanctions againstIran.
The visit ofthe Russian Defense Minister also doubtlessly had a political motivation. In the context ofa possible growth ofradicalism inAfghanistan, which borders Central Asia, Russia cannot afford toignore the situation inthe region, especially considering the presence ofRussian forces inTajikistan and the membership ofsome ofthe Central Asian states inthe Shanghai Treaty Organization. On these issues it has been necessary forthe two countries' military ministries tocarry outconsultations and toexchange information. Moreover, Russia and Iran have repeatedly expressed an interest inconducting joint military exercises, inthe region ofthe Caspian Sea inparticular. This had been a topic fordiscussion atthe recent summit ofthe presidents ofthe Caspian states inAstrakhan.
It is worth recalling that duringthe visit ofRussian Air Forces Commander Victor Bondarev toIran in2013, Teheran had presented Russia withan Iranian copy ofits [captured] American drone. The question ofthe possible cooperation ofthe two states inthe production ofsimilar UAVs was discussed, alongwith the carrying outof military training courses. The Iranians have noted their readiness toinvite Russian military pilots and specialists inradar surveillance tothe coast ofthe Persian Gulf. The question ofthe entrance of [Russian] naval vessels toports alongthe Caspian Sea and inthe Persian Gulf has also been discussed.
Moreover, it is worth keeping inmind that the Iranian Air Force has parties ofSoviet MiG fighters, and that this is another area ofour interactions in the maintenance and modernization ofthe combat aircraft. We also have projects inthe fields ofthe construction ofmilitary helicopters, technical intelligence and even the proposals totake military-technical cooperation amongthe two countries tothe level ofresearch and development work.
Hence the areas ofour cooperation are wide-ranging, and depend first and foremost onthe political will ofthe two countries. The last year has shown that Russia and Iran are interested inthe implementation ofmany projects; the agreement onmilitary cooperation signed inthe course ofMinister Shoigu's visit demonstrates this fact.
Moscow and Tehran are mutually concerned aboutthe deteriorating situation inthe Middle East and the rise ofthe Islamic State terrorist group, which threatens both countries. Reports onthe appearance ofmilitants fromthis organization inAfghanistan bring aboutanxiety and concern inboth Russia and Iran, portending the possible destabilization ofthe situation inCentral Asia. How is the evolving situation being assessed inIran, and what measures are being taken inresponse?
Elena Dunaeva:Iran has been atthe forefront inthe fight againstreligious extremism, which acts underthe banner ofIslam. Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned fromthe platforms ofmajor international forums onthe dangers ofextremism and the aggressive plans ofradical terrorist groups, especially inconnection tothe situation inthe Middle East. What is happening inthe Middle East inSyria and Iraq has been a subject oftremendous concern forIran because it has threatened tocompromise the country's integrity and the very existence ofthe regime.
Tehran has repeatedly offered tojoin forces inorder toblock the flow offinances toreligious extremist organizations, tointroduce an official ban onthe purchase ofoil or the sale ofweapons tosuch organizations. Iran has offered neighboring Iraq its active support inthe fight againstterrorist groups. This includes the supply ofarms, ammunition, and aircraft forthe purpose ofhitting Islamic States targets inair strikes. Iran has declared that it considers a thirty-kilometer border area inIraq tobe its "red line", and that it is prepared tosend its troops intothese territories if necessary toprevent the Islamic State fromentering its territory.
In addition, Iran has been actively cooperating withIraqi Kurds, despitethe fact that the Kurdish issue is a sore point forIran, given that the establishment ofIraqi Kurdish autonomy does not serve its interests. Iranian military advisors amongKurdish military units assist incoordinating the fight againstradicals. They also assist Iraq's armed forces. Many people [in Iran] know the name ofGeneral Qassem Soleimani, a special forces commander ofthe Revolutionary Guards, considered tobe a national hero who is saving the country fromthe threat ofIslamic radicalism.
Both the Iranian government and the Shiite clergy are actively working tocreate a coalition againstterrorism. To counter Islamic radicalism, withthe support ofreligious leaders inIraq, Lebanon and Syria, Iranian Shiite theologians have established contact withSunni religious leaders ofArab countries and other countries inthe region. Iran recently held an Islamic Unity Conference, withthe participation ofthe country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
[Iranian] Shiite leaders aim toinstill the fact that religious extremism has nothing todo withgenuine Islam, and that terrorist leaders are trying tohide behindIslam, which, according tothe Quran, is a religion ofpeace and justice.
In what ways precisely is Tehran fighting terrorism insidethe country?
Elena Dunaeva:In the pastseven years, terrorist organizations' activity inIran has intensified, especially inthe provinces ofKhuzestan and Sistan o Baluchistan, home forthe most part tonon-Shiite populations. Groups inthe latter, funded fromabroad, declare their support forthe separation ofSistan o Baluchistan fromIran and forthe creation ofa Baluchi state. The main targets ofterrorist attacks have been not only Iranian military servicemen, butalso representatives ofthe local population who actively cooperate withIranian authorities. Very recently inSistan o Baluchistan one such group was liquidated followingattacks which killed school teachers teaching Persian tothe local population.
Teheran is tightening its security measures, policing and its border guard. In Sistan o Baluchistan, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, a two-meter fence alongwith watch towers and moats has been constructed. Such measures, originally taken inorder tostop the flow ofdrugs and contraband, are now being used toprevent the infiltration ofterrorist groups.
Shortly aftercoming topower, the government ofHassan Rouhani has openly admitted that the main problem inthese areas is their economic backwardness. At present the authorities are developing plans foreconomic development inSistan o Baluchistan, its residents being provided withadditional social assistance, while the president and senior officials make regular visits. The task athand is toinvolve the Sunni population and its cultural and political elite ofthese areas intothe Iranian political system. Ali Younes, the Assistant tothe President onNational and Religious Minorities, notes that the question ofestablishing an advisory board ofSunnis inIran has been considered atthe highest level. This step will aim atattracting Sunni political activists and the cultural elite inorder tosolve the fundamental issues ofgovernance. Most ofthe work is being carried outby a former presidential candidate, Mohsen Rezai, Secretary ofthe Expediency Discernment Council, and a native ofthe Bakhtiari tribes. He was amongthe initiators ofthe plan forthe administrative and economic regionalization ofthe country, which is totransfer a part ofthe central government's functions tothe regions.
Another important measure aimed atstabilizing the situation inthe border areas is the plan toteach national languages and literature inschools. The right tothe use ofnational languages is enshrined inthe country's constitution, butnever inthe past35 years has the question oftheir teaching been officially raised. Presently the issue is again being discussed. However, conservatives say that Persian is the consolidating language ofthe Iranian nation, and that teaching other languages may cause damage tothe state's cultural tenets.
By Sputnik News
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