The editor of the Iranian daily Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote in the paper's editorial that the Russia-Georgia war was a pivotal event in the regional and international arena.
The editorial noted that the U.S., Europe, and the Zionist lobby had sacrificed their ally Georgia for fear of their own interests, and stated that this was a lesson for the group in Iran that thinks that closeness to the U.S., establishing relations with it, and relying on it are the key to solving Iran's problems.
Further, the editorial stated, the Russian response, manifested by continued fighting, the rejection of a ceasefire, and the spread of the fighting to Tbilisi, indicates Russia's aspiration to again be a world power and a strategic change in its policy, which up until now been tolerant, towards the policy of the American takeover of the Caucasus.
The editorial noted that the Russian response could be perceived as against the American plan for positioning a missile defense system in the region.
Source: Kayhan, Iran, August 12, 2008
