Rajab Safarov: “Putin’s visit to Iran was cancelled because of the mentality of the Iranian nation”

Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza

Iranian ambassador Mahmud Reza Sadjadi stated that presidents Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani would meet for the first time in September at the SCO summit. Thus, the head of Russia won’t go to Iran in August. Vestnik Kavkaza interviewed the director of the Center for Studying Contemporary Iran, Radjab Safarov, on the topic.

- What could the consequences of the correction of the Caspian voyage of Vladimir Putin be?

- The Kremlin initiated a nice idea about organizing a Caspian voyage. But it was initiated in a hurry and wasn’t prepared in an appropriate way. As the result, the idea faced certain difficulties of a protocol character. It is not about desire or absence of desire from the Iranian side or its feeling that it is a regional superpower. Moreover, peculiarities of the political system of Iran mean that the spiritual leader is actually the main person in the political system of Iran. The Kremlin treated the visit formally and didn’t consider these peculiarities. It caused a certain discomfort and tension in Iranian society. Many people perceived this as disrespect to the spiritual leader and the new president of Iran – when the new president assumed office, Mr. Putin didn’t want to come for a half an hour, to shake his hand and congratulate him. From the formal point of view, the Kremlin was right. But actually its position doesn’t consider important moments. The trip could take place, if the Kremlin made it clear that Mr. Putin had certain attractive proposals for Iran – a settlement of the missile systems issue, the project of further cooperation in the sphere of nuclear energy, a certain plan on Syria and coordination of actions. It could be a serious stimulus for the President of Iran, and he would forget about his self-love and come to see and talk to Putin. But what about the spiritual leader who makes important decisions? It would be disrespect for the whole Iranian state and nation.

- The US Congress has adopted more sanctions against Iran on its nuclear program. How did Tehran react to this?

- American politics is a huge mechanism. If it is launched, it is difficult to stop it, because the mechanism can work due to traditions, common norms which have been operating for years. Of course it is awful, bad and wrong. What is the point of adopting new sanctions against Iran? Is it a punishment for Ahmadinejad two days before his resignation? Is it a punishment for the new president? Probably they want to threaten the new president for him to be more loyal. It is absurd, it is wrong as well, because the US administration is creating a bad atmosphere for the Iranian-American direction of the politics of the new cabinet. Even if Mr. Rouhani has some ideas about restoration of relations with the West, European countries, and even with the US, the system devalues the ideas. I think Barack Obama and Congress make a huge mistake.

It is obvious that the political system of Iran is so balanced that it functions normally; and if sanctions worsen life, living standards drop, the economy suffers, the Iranians will know that it is because of the Americans. They will know that they suffer not because of unskilful management in Iran, but because Iran’s enemies don’t want the country’s development. That’s how Iranian society will perceive it. Iranian society has no protest attitudes which would threaten the political system. Yes, life became worse. Problems appeared in all spheres. But the sources of the problems are well known – the monarchies of the Persian Gulf and the West. At the same time, Iran provides an independent policy and can be an example in the Islamic world, having a balanced political system which doesn’t depend on the US and the West. That is why Saudi Arabia fears the development of Iran.

The sanctions have one goal: disturbing the development of Iran; the perfect variant is destabilization and destruction of the system at the hands of the Iranians themselves. Everything which is done toward Iran is politically reasonable and has nothing in common with human rights, breaking the IAEA norms or democracy. Iran is one of the most democratic countries in the Islamic world. Sometimes the democratic level in the country surpasses the level in Western countries.

- The draft on sanctions was adopted by 400 votes “for” and 20 votes “against”, but it should be considered by the Senate and signed by President Obama. Can they veto the document?

- Of course they can. At the final stage Obama can put on the robe of a peacemaker, a democrat, a person who gives Iran a chance. It would be a nice sign for the new president that such a decision would be made with his coming. However, Iran wouldn’t come to any preliminary conditions, moreover, under pressure or threat of new sanctions. Time will tell. I think it is 65/35 that the draft won’t be signed.