The Presence of Russians in Iran is Not Limited to Bombers

The newspaper Jam-e-Farda in its Thursday issue reported with the headline "Russians Fired Cruise Missiles from the Skies of Iran," stating that concurrently with the visit of the Russian President to Tehran, Ahmadreza Pourdastan, the Deputy Commander of the Iranian Army, responded to ambiguities surrounding the military presence of Russia in Iran. He mentioned that "last year, during the use of Russian fighter jets from the Hamadan airbase to attack positions in Syria, Russian fighter jets, with permission from Iranian officials, fired cruise missiles towards targets in Syria." The newspaper pointed out that "this was the first time in contemporary Iranian history after World War II that a foreign air force used Iranian territory to target objectives outside the country." It noted that "after countries like Armenia and Syria, Iran has become one of the countries where Russian fighter jets are officially stationed with the consent of the host governments." Jam-e-Farda also stated that "the story of the Russians' presence in Iran is not limited to bombers," recalling that some time ago, Zubkov, a member of the Russian Duma, suggested that "we need several bases like in Syria," proposing that "Russian armed forces be stationed in Iran." The newspaper Javan, close to the Revolutionary Guards, dedicated its front page to the separate meetings of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan with the Leader of the Islamic Republic, reporting that Ali Khamenei told Vladimir Putin, "We can neutralize sanctions and isolate America." According to this newspaper, the Leader of the Islamic Republic told the Russian President: "We should utilize the useful experiences of recent years in regional issues and bilateral relations to strengthen and develop relations" and that "the very good experience of cooperation between the two countries on the Syrian issue and the results of this cooperation showed that Tehran and Moscow can achieve common goals in difficult fields." Javan quoted Ali Khamenei as saying that "the potential for economic cooperation between Iran and Russia is far beyond the current level" and that "in the field of transportation, utilizing the important route from Chabahar port to St. Petersburg, and in other economic areas, we can have broader cooperation." Kayhan also reported on its front page, quoting the Russian President as saying, "Russian producers pray that U.S. sanctions do not end." This newspaper noted that Vladimir Putin, during his meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized that "we consider Iran a strategic partner and a major neighbor and will use every opportunity to expand and strengthen relations" and stressed "Moscow's support for the JCPOA," stating, "We oppose any unilateral changes to the provisions of this multilateral agreement and consider unilateralism as a violation of international laws and norms." Kayhan simultaneously reported that the editor-in-chief of this newspaper and the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Republic in Kayhan emphasized opposition to the JCPOA, stating, "It was clear from the beginning that we gave a saddled horse and received a broken rein" and that "the term 'almost nothing' reflects the disaster of the JCPOA, as it has not only yielded no achievements but has also lost dozens of tangible concessions." The newspaper Aftab Yazd dedicated its front page photo and headline to "the special escort of Mr. Putin" during his visit to Tehran, stating that during Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran, "an attention-grabbing scene was captured by the lenses of news photographers. More than 20 cars were lined up to escort the number one man of the Kremlin to Velenjak for a meeting with Hassan Rouhani, and capturing this moment in images was remarkable as few politicians in this vast world have such a number of protective vehicles and bodyguards." This newspaper noted that Vladimir Putin "spends huge amounts annually to equip his security team," stating, "About 400,000 paramilitary and police forces are trained solely to serve him" and that "when Putin travels, hundreds accompany him to ensure nothing happens to him, so in addition to his 7 dedicated cars, 3 to 4 SUVs also escort him on the main streets of the city, and interestingly, the car he rides in is not only bulletproof but also missile-proof, like the S-500 six-door vehicle he left Mehrabad for Velenjak on Wednesday." The newspaper Arman also dedicated its front page photo to Ilham Aliyev, Hassan Rouhani, and Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the trilateral summit of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan, stating that aside from economic cooperation, the collaboration between Iran and Russia in regional arenas has brought these two influential players closer than ever, and now cooperation is moving towards greater convergence, with Russia gradually becoming a strategic partner for Iran. Ali Bigdeli, a regional affairs analyst, wrote in the editorial of Arman that "besides the fact that the trilateral meeting of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan has a history, what is most important is that all three countries are looking for more markets for trade and commerce. All three countries do not have a very favorable economic situation, and Russia is under EU and U.S. sanctions, so it is constantly looking for new markets to compensate for the closure of European and American markets." The editorial writer emphasized that "we (Iran) also have the same problem with more limited resources. Azerbaijan is growing and developing and is always looking for new markets," stating: "Our communication with Mr. Putin is more about the Syrian issue. Another issue we are entangled in, which we have made the Russians a scapegoat for, relates to the recent U.S. stance that has conditioned the preservation of the JCPOA on several conditions: first, that missile tests be halted, the IRGC refrain from assisting and cooperating with terrorist groups, and the issue of regional security and Iran's interference in the region be reviewed. In fact, the Costa sanctions include all these matters. Sanctions that, of course, do not mention the IRGC by name but use the term 'enemies of America.'" The newspaper Arman noted that during Putin's visit to Iran, negotiations "are mostly about how Russia can support us in the Security Council," stating: "If the Russians can achieve their interests in Syria, they have no other problems. However, our problem is about preserving Bashar al-Assad, and we insist that our connection with Hezbollah should not be cut off, as it would be very detrimental for us. Meanwhile, the Russians do not think about keeping Bashar al-Assad and are more concerned about their own interests. Russia has taken Syria hostage against the Americans to have the Americans lift the sanctions they imposed on Russia and for the Russians to leave the region." The editorial writer of Arman also reminded that "Russia has established a ground base in Syria, and we are probably also looking to establish a ground base in Syria, which has caused sensitivity," stating: "Our disagreement with Mr. Putin is more about preserving and maintaining Bashar al-Assad. It is expected that in the next round of the Astana meeting, the draft constitution of Syria will be discussed, and based on this constitution, elections are likely to be held next year, and naturally, if under the supervision of the United Nations, Bashar al-Assad's vote may be contrary to expectations." The newspaper Sharq in its Thursday front page wrote: "The appointment of governors has put Rahmani Fazli in trouble" and "the Minister of Interior is on the verge of impeachment." According to this newspaper, "On Wednesday, murmurs were heard in the corridors of the parliament about gathering signatures for the impeachment of Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior; the first of them was Elias Hazrati, a representative from Tehran, who informed reporters about some representatives' efforts to gather signatures for the impeachment of the Minister of Interior. He also mentioned Ali Rabiei, the Minister of Labor, alongside Rahmani Fazli; two ministers who received yellow cards from the parliament shortly after gaining confidence. Although efforts are underway to gather signatures for the impeachment of Rabiei as well, it seems that the resolve to impeach Rahmani Fazli is stronger." Sharq noted that issues such as "Padeh Shandiz" and "governors" are among the main issues involved in the potential impeachment of the Minister of Interior, recalling that "previously, during the eleventh government, murmurs about the parliament's move to impeach Rahmani Fazli were heard, none of which even reached the announcement of arrival; the most important of these was regarding the issue of Mino Khaleghi, the representative of Isfahan, in the 94 elections. This issue, along with other criticisms of the performance of the Ministry of Interior, has led to many discussions about Rahmani Fazli, to the extent that some representatives spoke of not voting for Rahmani Fazli if he were nominated for the twelfth cabinet, although this remained only talk." The newspaper Iran, close to the government, reported with the headline "Documented Unemployed Searching for Work" that the unemployed population of the country by the end of 95 was equivalent to 3 million 203 thousand and 398 people, of which more than 3 million 110 thousand and 900 people have education levels from elementary to professional doctorate, and only "9 thousand 246 people are also illiterate unemployed," while "among the unemployed population with education, the highest number of unemployed in the country are among those with bachelor's degrees, with a population of 914 thousand and 301 people." This newspaper emphasized that at least 204 thousand people with master's or professional doctorate degrees (medical sciences) are unemployed, stating: "According to the report of the Statistical Center, the largest employed population in the country, with 5 million and 38 thousand people, holds diploma and pre-university degrees. Also, among the employed population in the country, graduates with bachelor's degrees account for more than 3 million and 123 thousand and 900 people. One million and 7 thousand and 900 people also hold master's or professional doctorate degrees, and the least employed population in the country consists of individuals with specialized doctorate degrees, which account for 100 thousand and 704 people of the employed population," but "on the other hand, 204 thousand people with master's and professional doctorate degrees are unemployed." The newspaper Iran also stated: "4 thousand and 848 people with specialized doctorate degrees are also unemployed." The newspaper Etemad dedicated its front page photo to Mohsen Armin, a reformist figure, and his response to Hossein Zibayee Nejad (Hossein Najat), the deputy commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organization. According to this newspaper, "Mohsen Armin has been embroiled for weeks in accusations attempting to portray him as an interrogator in Ward 209" in the early years after the revolution, "a title that has been raised following a series of interviews by the Tasnim news agency by Akbar Barati and Hossein Najat, two initial members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization and two current security officials. However, in a response published in the Etemad newspaper, Mohsen Armin wrote to the current deputy commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, Hossein Zibayee Nejad: "The wave of propaganda attacks against me began a few months ago. Initially, an individual outside the country accused me of being a reformist who was among the officials of Evin Prison and the Ministry of Intelligence in the 60s and tortured people. Although my selection among all reformists was quite strange, I attributed that person's words to repressed grudges. A month or two later, the Tasnim news agency directed the same accusations at me. This time, I took it as a personal action and not a designed scenario. Until last month, the same news agency published an interview with a starless general, who has never had a presence in the media and news, and accused me of being a harsh torturer in the 60s. After that, other interviews and roundtable discussions of this kind were published by Tasnim. The common point in all these cases is that the journalist of this news agency, while discussing other matters, inappropriately asks about Armin being an interrogator and receives confirmation from the interviewee, and headlines that confirmation. Thus, I realized that the statements of that person abroad were not so coincidental. This time, it seems, it is your turn, a starless general like you, to play a role in this scenario." Mohsen Armin addressed the current deputy commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, stating: "I previously warned your friends at Tasnim news agency that firstly, this explicit and direct advertising style, which is very similar to Russian propaganda, has a counterproductive effect. At least consider some intelligence for the audience and act more professionally. Secondly, the accusation of torture in the 60s in prison does more to confirm all the claims of the opponents of the Islamic Republic than to tarnish my image. In fact, the friends at Tasnim news agency are so caught up in political bandwagoning and vendetta against the rival that they do not realize they are sitting on a branch and cutting it off. What better excuse is there to prove torture in the prisons of the Islamic Republic than the news from the news agency affiliated with the IRGC, which explicitly states that the IRGC personnel committed such atrocities in those years?" The newspaper Etemad also quoted Mohsen Armin addressing Hossein Najat, stating: "Dear General Najat, my background is clear; I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I have explicitly stated that with the entry of the Mojahedin Khalq into the military phase, I was among those members of the organization who joined the IRGC to combat blind terrorism and fight against the crimes of the Mojahedin Khalq. I have also clearly stated that this cooperation lasted less than a year and for various reasons, including Imam Khomeini's order to choose between political activity or membership in military organizations, and also due to the issues I witnessed during this time, I ended my cooperation. I can, of course, explain more about those issues."