То the results of the visit of Sergei Shoigu to Tehran
21 January 2015
A successful visit of Russian Defense Minister in Tehran, ended with the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation between our two countries, allows for the question of whether there is a reality cooperation between Russia and Iran in the field of defense and security, a clear answer "Yes!"
However, Sergei Shoigu at the final ceremony of the signing of this document rightly noted that while only the first step, while
"established the theoretical basis of cooperation in the military sphere," which has yet to fill specific projects. But in contrast to the state of a number of other areas of the Iranian-Russian cooperation in the military leadership in Moscow and Tehran have clearly articulated "road map" of relations in the field of defense and security. Therefore, the agreement, and here we are a little recovered accustomed to exercise maximum restraint in the estimates of our minister of defense, not so much "theoretical framework" as a real foundation for subsequent agreements. Most of which, we note, in one form or another have worked out for almost a year.
The beginning of this work was started in October 2013, during a visit to Iran, the Russian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Alexander Bondarev. And at the finish line dialogue on ways of further development of the Iranian-Russian cooperation in the defense sector came after a personal meeting Sergey Shoigu and Hossein Dehghan in May 2014, the end of which they stated that
"Russia and Iran will develop military and military-technical cooperation, given the current political situation in the world. " Noting that the main task of the parties consider the transition of Russian-Iranian cooperation in the field of security "to a new level."
For a thorough study of all the details common to Moscow and Tehran approaches to cooperation in the defense sector took several months. This period was due not so much "smoothing" sharp corners, as the fact that the negotiation process wedged regional security issues. They are - an integral part of the dialogue between the military and political leaders of our countries, because without the development of common approaches to common for Russian and Iranian threats and challenges, the intention in defense partnership at risk of becoming simply another set of "good intentions and good intentions", which without missing a Russian-iraskih relations.
Basic principles of defense cooperation between Moscow and Tehran
At the closing ceremony of the Russian and Iranian defense ministers exchanged statements that, in fact, are common to our countries the principle of regional security.
"The situation in the region and in the world requires a strong and powerful Russia, Iran to jointly promote the strengthening of international security and regional stability" - Iranian Defense Minister. "We have common challenges and threats in the region, which can only confront together" - backed him Sergei Shoigu. And the main common goal, as explained by the Iranian defense minister - is
"the struggle with the intervention of outside forces in the region."
Military inherent brevity and clarity limit, but because "extraregional power" did not remain anonymous. The main cause of deterioration of the situation in the region, "is the destructive policy of the US, to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries," - said Hossein Dehghan. And, apparently, his Russian counterpart completely from this point of view. As the threats and challenges that are created today for the West and Moscow, Tehran and in general the same - whether it's "Afghan", "Iraqi" or "Syrian" direction.
In general, the talks between Sergei Shoigu and his Iranian counterpart, characterized, according to sources close to the delegations utmost sincerity and openness. The general atmosphere of the visit of Russian Defense Minister in Tehran strikingly different from what usually happens with the "civilian counterparts" of the defense ministers of the two countries. Maybe it comes from the fact that, unlike the "economic unit" in Moscow that Tehran was strongly influenced by liberal ideas, "siloviki" our countries more clearly understand that the Middle East has come "moment of truth" . Moment when you need not look at the geopolitical machinations of the White House, and to create their own regional blocs, at the same level to "extinguish" conflicts do not involve the healing of "pain points" overseas and European "doctors from geopolitics." In this regard, more ambiguous phrase sounded Russian defense minister that Moscow will continue dialogue with Iran on security issues during Russia's presidency in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Does this phrase that Iran has finally become a full member of the SCO? Very hopefully, as it not only activates the creation of a new regional security architecture, but also give a new impetus to the SCO itself to development.
What will the new format of the Russian-Iranian military-technical cooperation?
One of the main results of the visit of Sergei Shoigu to Iran is certainly to be considered in-depth discussion of prospects for military-technical cooperation between our countries, to be exact - the new format it. The signing of the "nuclear contract" Russia has already proved that it is capable of strategic industries do not look at the whims and unilateral sanctions by Washington and the European Union. Now it was the turn of the defense sphere. Intergovernmental agreement signed in Tehran - a rather general document. According to the text, the military authorities of the two countries will exchange delegations to maintain contacts at the headquarters level, invite each other to teaching, to train personnel and implement mutual visits of naval ships.
It is obvious that the real needs of defense cooperation for our countries is much broader. They have yet to issue separate protocols, which are now a matter of urgency will prepare ministries and agencies of Russia and Iran. But in the process of working on these documents to answer the most important question, the question of MTC format - trade or cooperation? Or, perhaps, both. Naturally, the discussion on this subject between the defense ministries of our countries do not become the subject of public discussion. Therefore, all that is written below - only the editorial board To iran.ru that has no relation to the official position of the relevant ministries of our countries.
Today, the military-technical cooperation between Moscow and Tehran have two ways of further development. The first is largely worn even profitable, but one-sided - only and exclusively the sale of Russian weapons. In fact, a return to the two previous periods: between 1990-2000 and between 2000-2007 years.
In the first of them bought from Moscow to Tehran weapons worth about four billion dollars. Including - two anti-aircraft missile system S-200VE, 20 MiG-29 fighters, 12 Sukhoi Su-24MK, 12 Mi-17 helicopters, three diesel-electric submarine of the project 877 EKM, 126 T-72S plus 300 assembly kits and 413 BMP-2.
In the second - the volume of Russian sales amounted to 85 percent of Tehran's military imports, which at that time was, in particular, 33 multi-purpose military transport helicopters Mi-171 and Mi-171SH, 6 Su-25UBK 29 complexes "Tor-M1".
Thus, the total sales of approximately six billion dollars. It is possible that a couple of billion Russia will be able to "take" on participation in the modernization of the national machinery, operated by the Iranian army. But Tehran has already outgrown the level of mere "purchaser" of weapons, evidence of which - the country's success in the field of missile and other technologies, including dual-use technologies. And because today he seeks not only to the role of buyer of Russian weapons, and offers a slightly different level of cooperation - joint research and development work, That is such a format of MTC, which exists only in Russia and China.
Homework for the Defense Ministers of Russia and Iran
In the Iranian military is already ready to offer the Russian side on joint projects in the field of rocketry, production of drones, helicopter and develop means of technical intelligence. Moreover, it is not a complete list of areas of cooperation offered by the Iranians. By the way, the above-described new format MTC between Russia and Iran and offered to "close" the question of the S-300. The Iranian side has made it clear that, of course, will not give up the acquisition of S "Antey-2500", which have been offered to her instead of "trehsotok," but at the same time invited Russia to participate in the modernization of existing Iranian S-200, which are essentially a copy of the S-300PS, Tehran purchased from Russia in 1993, as independent works of the Iranian defense industry in this direction so far have not achieved much success.
Following the talks, the Russian defense minister with his colleagues in Tehran, and there is no doubt that in the near future the sides will start technical work on the exchange of information obtained by means of technical intelligence. Iran successfully operating system of monitoring the operational situation in the Persian Gulf. In Russia, including the CSTO, actively restored to a qualitatively new level of system monitoring the situation on the "southbound" includes Central Asia. Experts of the two countries have long been raising the issue of cooperation in this sensitive area, the more that the Syrian events and reached there the interaction of our experts to say with confidence that this exchange of information and the expansion of the monitoring system for Afghanistan meets the security interests of both Moscow and Tehran.
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Of course, the results of the visit of Sergei Shoigu in Iran is not confined only to the military-technical issues. One of the main points of the joint agenda was to discuss the situation prevailing in Afghanistan. And besides, said about the Caspian Sea, and the threat of drug trafficking and terrorism. Mention briefly about all this would be absolutely wrong. Therefore, these issues will be the subject of separate articles Iran.ru. Especially the results of a Russian defense minister have such far-reaching implications that will have to talk about them again and again.
То the results of the visit of Sergei Shoigu to Tehran
