Interview

"Iran has no leverage to prevent Putin from such a scenario." Dawoodian

Radar Armenia's interlocutor is Iranologist Tigran Davudyan.

- Erdogan stated that Ukraine's use of long-range missiles increases the risk of a nuclear conflict. In your opinion, will Russia use atomic weapons to resolve issues or not?

- I do not know the ins and outs of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. After listening to the experts, I know that besides Erdogan, other leaders are also concerned about the escalation of Russia-Ukraine tension. Russia will not choose to use nuclear weapons.

- In your opinion, is it in the United States' favor for Russia to use nuclear weapons, considering the magnitude of its danger and the irreversibility of its consequences? And in that case, how can we understand Biden's well-known position that it is allowed to hit Russia with long-range weapons?

- The USA will not want Russia to carry out its threat, which is not beneficial for Washington. Experts think that the United States finally gave in to Ukraine's request, as Moscow involved more than 15,000 North Korean soldiers in the war, and the White House has only a few days left. There is also an opinion that Biden, as the outgoing president, had no right to make such fatal decisions for the USA, the region, and the world.

- As Iran is one of the central states in the region, to what extent can it influence Russia to exclude such a scenario?

- Even though Iran is a significant country in the region and helps Russia in practice and propaganda in the war against Ukraine, it does not have the leverage to prevent Putin from such a possible scenario.

- And how do you interpret Iran's announcement about moving Iran's capital to the south and the sea?

The issue of moving Iran's capital has been discussed for years. Tehran now has more than ten million inhabitants and needs more infrastructure. An alternative is being discussed. Iran has capitals with great glory and past, such as Spahan and Shiraz. There is still no final decision on which option will be chosen, but the direction will be to the south.

Hayk Magoyan