Speech Delivered at the Discussion Session with Members of the Russian Duma at the Center for Political
and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 23, 2024
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
I am Sasan Karimi, Deputy to the Vice President for Strategies Affairs of the and a lecturer at the University of Tehran
I extend my sincere gratitude to IPIS of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this invitation. At the same time, considering that I feel a sense of hosting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I warmly welcome our Russian friends.
The relationship between Iran and Russia holds significant importance for both parties. For the Islamic Republic of Iran, this bilateral relationship is vital and foundational—just as it is for the Russian Federation.
At the same time, we expect our Russian friends to welcome the development and facilitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign relations with the entire world and to consider this in their equations and calculations. Contrary to the wishes of hegemonists such as the United States, we do not perceive the world as polarized. Personally, I believe the era of "poles" in international relations ended years ago. Anyone who still adheres to hegemonic, polarized, or bandwagoning policies—or similar ideologies—must rethink their connection to the realities of the global environment.
In the post-polar world, various collaborators exist for different issues, and rather than expecting others to "follow and remain loyal," the main criteria for expanding cooperation should be "shared positions and common issues."
We are keen to understand the various, particularly dominant, ideas in Russia on topics such as the war in Syria and the updated perspectives on the war in Ukraine. The most crucial prerequisite for any domestic or foreign development is an accurate depiction of the circumstances. We must strive to clarify our perception of ourselves and our environment by eliminating cognitive barriers.
In my view, what Iran and Russia should learn more than ever from their close friend, the People's Republic of China, is to avoid falling into the securitization traps set by the United States and its allies
.Thank you for your attention
