Iran officials defend Russian use of Hamadan air base
Many Iranian officials were quick to downplay concerns about the legality of Russian jets using an Iranian airbase to strike targets in Syria.
There has been a great deal of traditional and social media chatter over Russia's use of an Iranian air base to strike targets in Syria, reportedly the first time a foreign power has used an Iranian base since World War II.
At an open parliament session Aug. 17, Iranian parliamentarian Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh cited Article 146 of the Iranian Constitution, saying, “The establishment of any type of [foreign] military base in the country, even for peaceful purposes, is forbidden.” Falahatpisheh, who is a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, warned that Russia has a “turbulent foreign policy” and its own “strategic and foreign policy considerations.”
Referencing one of the early slogans in the 1979 revolution, “Neither East nor West,” Falahatpisheh added that whenever Iran had encountered problems, both Western and Eastern countries have teamed up against it. Indeed, the last time foreign countries used Iranian military bases, the Soviet Union from the north and the British from the south had invaded Iran.
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, however, dismissed Falahatpisheh’s concerns. “We did not put any military base at anyone’s discretion,” he responded during the session. “That we cooperated with Russia, who is our ally on regional issues, especially on Syria, does not mean putting a base at their discretion, and if the media reports such a thing, it is denied.” Larijani then praised Russia’s “correct understanding” of the region and expressed happiness that the Russians are also coming around to Iran’s positions on Yemen.
