RUSSIA’S SPECIAL OPERATION IN UKRAINE: REACTION OF THE POLITICAL FORCES OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

In this paper the authors examine the stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the Russian special operaton in Ukraine, drawing on the analysis of the statements made by Ira‑ nian politcians and statesmen, media output and expert artcles. The Islamic Republic was concerned with the militarizaton of Ukraine, the possibility of its entry into NATO and furthering of this bloc towards Iran’s boarders. The country's leadership realized that the confict between Russia and Ukraine will impact the entre system of internatonal relatons. The launch of Russia’s special operaton induced varied reactons across the Iranian politcal and expert spectrum, revealing diferent foreign policy approaches among Iran’s major politcal factons. The official positon of the Iranian leadership could be described as «supportve neutrality». While the confict is blamed on the West, IRI’s top policymakers avoid open support towards Russia, and call for peaceful resoluton of the crisis. Only the members of ultra‑hardline establishment and those affiliated with the IRGC explicitly vindicate Russia’s strategy. The oppositon represented by reformists and centrists condemns Russia’s actons, critcizes Ira‑ nian authorites and calls for diversifcaton of the foreign policy line. In additon, the issue of IRI’s potental capacity to enter the European energy market is addressed. The analysis of the producton and export profle of the hydrocarbons indicates, that even in the event of early removal of the sanctons, Iran will not be able to take Russia’s share in the market.