Iran has a centuries-old experience of a state. It has not been a part of another state in its visible past, nor has been a colony of another country. Iranians do not want to be anyone’s marionette. It makes the rest of the world respect our neighbors. On the other hand, those who prefer to deal with marionettes (currently there are two such countries: Russia and the US), the desire to be independent irritates the leaders of both countries. Irritation of the “chiefs” increases, when businessmen come to power in marionette-lover countries.
Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, made a deal of selling arms for billions, announced Iran to be the world’s most terrifying threat (without bringing any argument in favour of this proposition), afterwards, Saudi Arabia and other US marionettes announced that the terrorist threat is coming from Qatar (not from their countries), after which the terrorists committed attacks in Iran. Here is the simple chain of events, where money acquisition from oil and arms is the basis.
Of course, one should not idealize or demonize anyone, since states are guided by their interests. Just it does not seem to me that the interests of the second decade of the 21st century are based exclusively on hydrocarbon resources and enclosed in the cycle of selling oil, acquiring bombs, and conquering new oil wells with those bombs.
There is another weaker and poorer “marionette lover” country, Russia, which operates on the same principle, “Be our marionettes, otherwise we will cut off your gas supply, will not let you sell oil, or we will provide your enemies with weapons”. Don’t you think that a day will arrive in the 21st century when no one will need your oil and gas? So, there is no need to become nervous when people refuse to be your marionettes. Try to obtain true friends.
Seeds of independent thinking also appeared in Armenia last year on April. They appeared not so much in minds of state or political elite but in heads of 18-20 years old soldiers keeping the frontline. Their heroisms claimed, “It does not matter whether it is good or bad within the borders, we will protect our land”. I believe, this approach was unexpected for those who provoked the conflict (i.e. for Kremlin). This may be puzzling for those who are stirring up in the conflict, even irritate them. But it will also make them respect us in some extent. The extent depends on the aforementioned elite.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
