Iran benefits from relations with Russia only while cooperating with other countries: Expert
Russia, along with Germany, Britain, France and even China, do not play a decisive role in the JCPOA; Iran and the United States are the main parties to the deal. But Russia can play a facilitating role, an expert on international relations said.
Hassan Beheshtipoor said in an exclusive interview with ILNA that "Russia has faced sanctions over its war with Ukraine and is more inclined to increase its cooperation with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, India, and China.”
He said that “in other words, instead of focusing on the West, Russia's foreign policy approach has now shifted to the East, and in these matters; too, Iran is one of the important countries through which Russia can create a new space for cooperation in circumventing sanctions.”
Iran's interests are to be able to have a greater presence in the Russian market and on the other hand to be able to use this relationship to foster cooperation among Iran, India, Russia on the one hand, and among Iran, India, and Afghanistan on the other hand, the expert said.
“Russia, along with Germany, Britain, France, and even China, do not play a decisive role in the JCPOA, and Iran and the United States are the main parties to the deal. But Russia can play a facilitating role,” he said in response to a question about whether Lavrov's trip is about Iran’s nuclear talks or not.
Russian banks were not willing to work with the Iranian side in the past, but today, when Russia itself is under sanctions, it is willing to trade in rubles and rial, and this is a good opportunity for Iran, he said, adding, “But it is wrong to rely on China and Russia for our entire economy. We need to have good relations with China and Russia while having good relations with Japan, South Korea, and traditional trading partners such as India and the European Union.”