Tasnim – A former US army psychological warfare officer and counter-terrorism analyst said strategic cooperation between Tehran and Moscow means an end to invasion of countries near Iran and Russia by terrorist mercenaries backed by the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel.


“Strategic cooperation between Iran and Russia means stopping all US-Saudi-Israeli terrorist mercenaries from being able to continue invading countries nearby Russia and Iran…,” Scott Bennett, from San Francisco, told the Tasnim News Agency on Friday.

Scott Bennett is a US Army Special Operations Officer (11th Psychological Operations Battalion, Civil Affairs-Psychological Operations Command), and a global psychological warfare-counterterrorism analyst, formerly with defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. He received a Direct Commission as an Officer, held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, and worked in the highest levels of international counterterrorism in Washington DC and MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He has developed and managed psychological warfare theories, products, and operations for US Special Operations Command, US Central Command, the State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and other government agencies.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Spanish Minor from San Jose State University in California, a Master of Arts in International Business and Public Policy from George Mason University in Virginia, and a Ph.D. (ABD) in Political Theory from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He currently resides in California.

The following is the full text of the interview.

Tasnim: Senior Iranian official Ali Akbar Velayati has conveyed a message from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent meeting in Moscow. What is your take on this?

Bennet: The Iranian leadership is very wise to meet with Russian leaders and impress upon them the mutual interdependence of destinies, which Iran and Russia share. In other words, what the Iranian leadership is saying is very simple and easy to understand, which is what the US does to Iran, they will also do to Russia—and China for that matter—unless these nations stand together against such international tyranny, terrorism, and hypocrisy. So Iran is appealing to Russia to consider its own long-term self-interests and stability, and asking President Putin to honestly reflect upon both the trustworthiness of the United States and the long-term agenda the US has toward Russia—as well as the region and the world. It also comes at a very interesting time, since in Washington DC, the Congress is conducting hearings on FBI corruption and certain members of Congress are desperately trying to brand Russia as the greatest foe and enemy and rival the US has in the world.  This US hysteria and animus, although shameful, would also seem to be helpful to the Iranian-Russian dialogue

Tasnim: Following the meeting, Dr. Velayati further described his discussions with the Russian president as “highly constructive, transparent and friendly.” Iran’s Leadership has long viewed relations with Moscow as “strategic”. What does strategic cooperation with Russia mean?

Bennet: Strategic cooperation between Iran and Russia means stopping all US-Saudi-Israeli terrorist mercenaries from being able to continue invading countries nearby Russia and Iran; rebuilding the areas which have been destroyed so far by the US-NATO-Saudi-Israeli war against Syria—which is a war  crime incidentally; uniting with China to contribute to the rebuilding and industry management of the oil and natural resources of the Syria, Iraq, and Iran; building alternative economic systems, agreements, currencies, and banks so that the US-Saudi petrodollar and banking system cannot be used as an economic warfare campaign against independent nations; and communicate the emergence of the Russia-Iran alliance to other members of Europe, so that European nations are encouraged to see that Russia-Iran represent stability in the Middle East and are the best alternative to the US agenda for instability, destruction, and US hegemony.

Tasnim: Velayati also quoted Putin as hailing the oil cooperation between Iran and Russia, saying Russia has announced readiness to make investment as high as $50 billion in Iran’s oil and gas industry, and that Russian firms could replace the western companies that have left Iran. Do you believe that it is time that Russia, Iran and China should form a separate economic front against US hegemony?

Bennet: Russia, Iran, China, Syria, North Korea are among a few of the nations which are openly demanding—not asking—that the era of “regime change” and reckless military adventurism to conquer and steal the natural resources of a nation by creating revolution or civil war in that nation, is finally over. This was essentially voiced by President Putin when he said at the United Nations regarding the Libya invasion and destruction by NATO, “Do you realize what you have done?”  All nations did, but few had the honor to repent of such a heinous act of war by Britain, France, the US, and NATO. As a result of this terrible tragedy, the world is growing more desirous of separate and distinct economic, political-military intelligence powers in the world, in order to balance out the US claim and agenda toward absolute global domination—or as they have stated elsewhere, “Full Spectrum Dominance”

Tasnim: As you know, this year’s NATO meeting comes ahead of Trump’s direct meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday. What do you think about this meeting?

Bennet: Trump instinctively has a respect and admiration for President Putin and Russia, and is longing for an opportunity to both openly recognize logical opportunities for joint-partnerships, and sign agreements to end the negative and destructive elements which are creating blocks between Russia and America. Trump admires Russia’s strength of character, its natural conservative social and political laws, and Russia’s enormous patience and longsuffering it has shown in the face of the current American political schizophrenia toward Russia.  Trump has been married so far to two women from the Slavic-Russian Orthodox areas, and he appreciates the unique and beautiful femininity and special grace Russian culture has compared to the toxic feminism, homosexuality, and liberalism rampant in the West.

To a degree, the European nations know Trump’s conservative character inclines him more in the direction of Putin and Russia because it is more harmonious to Trump than the European humanism, atheism, and liberalism—which Trump despises. So Putin should also recognize that Europeans will be much more inclined to make deals and agreements with Russia out of their own self-interests, and this will be triggered if Europeans see Trump and Putin becoming closer, happier, more trusting, and more optimistic in their agenda for the world and each other. So Putin should use this summit to create a new definition of graciousness and hope and impress it upon Trump; as well as make it clear that Russia and Iran are never going to seek a war with the US, but will never be put into a Libya situation.