Iran says 'dangerous creature' NATO would have started a war if not stopped by Russia

If Russian President Vlimir Putin h not “taken initiative” in Ukraine, NATO alliance would have launched a war with Russia over Crimea, said Iranian Supreme Leer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday. While speaking alongside Putin, who is visiting Iran, Khamenei declared that “as regards Ukraine, if you did not take initiative, or side would have initiated war.”

Iranian Supreme Leer went on to label West as “completely opposed to a strong and independent Russia” and NATO as “a dangerous entity that sees no boundaries in its expansionist policy”. He said that “h y [NATO, US] not been stopped in Ukraine, y would have launched same war sometime later under pretext of Crimea issue.”

Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, which was Ukraine’s part. Even in present so-called “special” military operation launched by Moscow in Ukraine, Putin’s forces are appearing to target pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. NATO has considered Crimea to be “illegally annexed” Ukrainian territory. It is to note that US-led defence alliance has not threatened Russia with open war and it has called on Moscow to return region to Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, Vlimir Putin termed loss of civilian lives in war a “big tragedy” but went on to blame West for causing Russia’s “reaction”. Kremlin leer was quoted as saying, “Some Western countries h said we’re against Ukraine’s membership in NATO but we agreed to it under pressure from US, which shows ir lack of independence”.

Both Khamenei and Putin reportedly discussed bilateral ties and also a grual phase-out of US dollar from Russia-Iran tre. y also exchanged views on Syria, Israel, and South Caucasus.

Putin arrived in Iran on Tuesday

Russian President Putin arrived in Iran on Tuesday for his first international trip since February 24 when he announced “special” military operation in Ukraine.  Kremlin leer met with his Iranian counterpart Raisi along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Putin also met with Iran’s Khamenei on Tuesday. 

During a bilateral meeting with Raisi, Putin said, “I am very pleased to be on hospitable Iranian soil...We can boast about record figures in terms of tre growth…We are strengning our cooperation on international security issues, making a significant contribution to settlement of Syrian conflict."

Image: AP