MPs: Russia has never been Iran’s friend

Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN – A number of lawmakers have expressed dismay over Russia’s position toward Iran, saying Moscow has never been Tehran’s friend since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The comments have come in response to Russia’s support for new sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.

Almost all Iranian officials are convinced that Russia keeps reneging on its commitments to Iran.

MP Avaz Heydarpour, a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, believes that Moscow has never been Iran’s friend.

“Russia has never been the Islamic Republic’s friend,” he told Mehr News Agency.

Heydarpour added that the Kremlin has always sought to protect its own interests and pocket.

Russia has always aligned itself with the Western countries against Iran, so Iran cannot count on Russia’s support, the lawmaker stated.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday that “agreement on the sanctions exists.”

“We hope the voice of the international community will be heard by the Iranian leadership,” Medvedev said in the German city of Meseberg.

Talking to the MNA, MP Hassan Ghafourifard commented that Russia has never approved of the Islamic Revolution’s principles, so friendship should not be expected from it.

“Personally, I never trusted the former Soviet Union either, before or after revolution, and after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, they (Russians) showed that they don’t support this revolution,” he noted.

He also criticized Russian officials for not fulfilling their commitments toward Iran.

----No flexibility in nuclear row

MP Heydarpour also suggested that Iran should not show any flexibility in the nuclear issue and should stand firm on its policies, because the West will not shift its policy toward Iran in any case.

He added that sanctions will benefit Iran in the long-term.