US President Donald Trump stated yesterday that direct talks between Iran and the United States have begun. Trump also emphasized that if the dialogue on the nuclear program between the US and Iran fails, Tehran will face a great danger. These statements were made during a meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran's main enemy.

Axar.az interviewed Russian political analyst Yevgeny Mikhaylov in this regard.

- Could Trump and Netanyahu have agreed on something secret, which is why the US President started making such statements?

- All options must be considered. It is possible that Trump and Netanyahu have agreed that, if something happens, they will jointly strike Iran and start this action from different sides. It makes no sense to believe Israel or the US when they say they can convince Iran to accept their demands by force. Iran is not a country that can be dealt with harshly. Talks with Iran can only take place on equal terms and with the involvement of third parties for negotiations. Iran is a serious player. Therefore, I consider the possibility of some secret plans between Trump and Netanyahu in case Iran does not comply with the US demands.

- Considering Iran's close relations with Russia and the fact that Russia and the US have started a constructive dialogue and rapprochement, could the escalation of the Islamic Republic's conflict with the US affect Russian-American relations?

- I have no doubt that Russia will make every effort to align the interests and establish a dialogue between the US and Iran. We have allied agreements with Iran, and of course, Russian-American relations, if they improve. But this doesn't mean we are abandoning our allies or distancing ourselves from the situation. Russia is not far from Iran. We are jointly working on certain geopolitical and economic projects. The US must understand that Russia has friendly relations with Iran. Therefore, making loud statements against Iran without considering Russia's position is a serious mistake on the part of both Israel and the US. I believe it’s unlikely that Israel and the US will make a decision to start a conflict with Iran, and in such a case, Moscow will hardly remain on the sidelines.

- If the situation escalates and a war begins, how will this affect the South Caucasus, particularly Azerbaijan?

- The situation will not escalate to war. However, if hostilities begin, the warming of relations between Baku and Tehran will remain on the sidelines. The key here is for Baku not to support Israel, as Israel is an ally of Baku in many areas. Baku should distance itself from the conflict if it starts. But I believe that such a situation is unlikely to happen, because it would be a global war. Iran is not a country to be dealt with from a position of strength and threats. Iran has enough resilience and established relationships with other countries to prevent the US and Israel from easily defeating the country. Given the improved relations with Tehran, Baku must make efforts to prevent the political conflict from escalating into a military one. Baku also has significant influence, especially as Azerbaijan leads the Non-Aligned Movement. Azerbaijan is a serious player on the international stage. Azerbaijan is interested in regional security and can make joint efforts with Russia to stabilize the situation and prevent conflict. Turkish interests must also be considered here. Turkiye is not interested in Iran ceasing to exist as a country because, without Iran, Israel would have no counterbalance in the Middle East, and Israel could aggressively undermine Turkiye's national interests. Ankara and Baku are strategic partners. So, the situation is very complex, and it should be resolved exclusively through diplomacy. The saber-rattling, as practiced by the US and Israel, will not lead to anything good. Here, we must defend our national interests in the region more firmly.