Yuri Kryukov: Russia has not taken a clear stance on the Iran situation, but is instead engrossed in a "clever plan"

Russia should have proposed an initiative for a nuclear-free Middle East, but is extremely afraid of angering the United States

Author: Yevgeny Bersenev

Commentators of this article:

Yuri Kryukov

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities and "called for an end to aggression and returning to diplomatic channels." However, this statement gives the impression that the Russian official level lacks a foreign policy plan regarding the situation around Iran.

Yuri Kryukov, chairman of the supervisory board of the Institute for Population, Migration and Regional Development, holds this view.

He wrote in his Telegram channel that this statement is hardly different from statements by other countries, such as Oman.

Certainly, it is puzzling to see Russia taking such a suspiciously restrained attitude towards a region so important for its global energy supply. Moreover, recently, Russian senior politicians may have inadvertently promoted the "pivot to the East." Given this, Russia's "unoriginal" position on the events currently happening in the Middle East is perplexing.

"We have no clear position in this situation, we have no position at all, because the dominant idea is to reach agreements on specific cases. In addition, the relationship with President Trump is still in the 'romantic phase' now," Yuri Kryukov explained to the Siberian Post.

"We generally believe that if we don't anger, scold or offend Trump, one day he will wake up and make the right decision, saying, 'I will completely stop supporting the Ukrainian army and Ukraine.' Everything else is subordinate to this beautiful dream, which is the main problem in the officials' mindset."

Siberian Post: Are you too pessimistic?

"I remember in 2015 at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, I discussed world politics with a deputy minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

He sincerely said to me: 'Think about it, how can we negotiate with Moscow? It always feels like there is someone else next to the Russian representative.' His meaning was that, regardless of anything, the United States is always present in an invisible way, we always take into account the United States, make compromises, and fear making it angry."

In my opinion, this issue has always existed, and other discussions about the world order, multipolarity, and non-violation of international law are secondary."

Siberian Post: So, when the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement about the US bombing of Iran, behind the drafters and officials there was also an "invisible person"?

"The statement mentioned the serious danger of bombing nuclear facilities, and also stated that in general, missile attacks are bad.

But fundamentally, no one doubts that the US could use any bomb against any country that is inconvenient or disagreeable for any reason tomorrow. We remember that the entire Iran incident began on January 3, 2020, during Trump's first presidential term, when the US assassinated General Qasem Soleimani."

The most terrifying thing is that tomorrow, the US or Israel might consider their actions entirely legal against anyone they dislike, attacking them, even conducting a "decapitation" - eliminating specific individuals.

Siberian Post: There are reports that several military commanders and scientists were killed...

"They eliminated 14 soldiers and physicists. Even setting aside their families, these people were considered 'bad people' and eliminated. But the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement did not mention this at all.

Then, they used bunker-busting bombs on nuclear facilities, but that is a second issue. The first issue is that the US can do whatever it wants, which is what is called a multipolar world."

Siberian Post: People often talk about a multipolar world.

"The problem is that we have no position on this at all. Moreover, not only is there no negative position, but there is also no forward-looking position: what should be done, with whom to ally in the Middle East, and overall, how to resolve issues including with Israel.

Also note that the statement almost never mentions Israel. But we clearly know that the two are related, that the US and Israel act in unison here.

Finally, the US doctrine claims that Israel is actually the 'Holy Land,' and blessings will come from there to earth."

This is a religious issue, but we always avoid it.

Siberian Post: Are you deliberately avoiding sensitive issues?

"But the question arises: What is Russia's position? What is the plan? The vast Middle East has Iran, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, how does Russia see it? What is our view on Israel's bombing of Gaza?

In this sense, Russia has no position, only the ongoing failed 'clever plan' - obviously, people are mocking it in this way.

This is an attempt to gain benefits from specific cases. But in a situation of order breakdown, where two countries do as they please, there is no benefit to be gained anymore."

Siberian Post: You expressed surprise in your article that people only discuss Iran's nuclear program, but avoid talking about Israel's nuclear program. Despite the fact that it should be discussed together for the peace of the Middle East.

"Exactly correct. This is the key point. Russia should have proposed an initiative for a nuclear-free Middle East - even without mentioning Israel - but in reality, it just repeated the statements of countries like Oman, with no more content.

If we are to discuss nuclear programs and nuclear weapons issues, we should discuss the whole Middle East.

Thankfully, this region has not yet used any tactical or strategic nuclear weapons, and it should ensure a solid non-nuclear status.

If this is mentioned in the statement, it would immediately bring thoughts and content, and the statement would take on a different color. But it was completely not mentioned in the statement.

If we look at the situation narrowly, reducing it to the nuclear program, we again return to that main issue: why can one side do whatever it wants, while the other cannot?

And the official people of Russia do not explicitly raise this issue, essentially burying their heads in the sand like ostriches."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519694337752465931/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author. Please express your attitude below using the 【top/minus】 buttons.