Moscow Accuses West: Iran’s Nuclear Program a Pretext for Regime Change
Vienna, Austria – Russia has strongly asserted that international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program have consistently served as a mere pretext for efforts aimed at undermining and ultimately overthrowing the Islamic Republic’s legitimate government. The accusation comes from Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, who also directly linked recent developments in Iran to the actions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling for an immediate response.
Condemnation of Alleged US-Israel ‘Aggression’
In a statement reported by RIA Novosti, Ulyanov unequivocally condemned what he described as “armed aggression” carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran on the morning of March 1st. He emphasized that Moscow “strongly and decisively rejects” such actions, highlighting Russia’s firm opposition to military interventions in the region.
Regime Change as the Core Objective
Ulyanov further elaborated on his concerns, stating that declarations by US and Israeli leaders leave no ambiguity regarding their primary objective: “the overthrow of the legitimate government of Iran.” This direct accusation underscores Russia’s view of a long-standing strategic intent behind Western policies concerning Iran.
Nuclear Concerns: A Quarter-Century Pretext
According to Ulyanov, the anxieties and questions raised over the past 25 years concerning Iran’s nuclear program have, in reality, acted as a “cover” for persistent attempts to instigate a change in the country’s leadership. This perspective frames the nuclear debate not as a genuine non-proliferation concern from Moscow’s viewpoint, but as a geopolitical tool employed to achieve regime change.
The Russian envoy’s remarks suggest a deep-seated suspicion regarding the motivations behind the international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear activities, positioning Russia as a vocal defender of Iran’s sovereignty against perceived external interference.
