INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A hero in the realm of truth whose fight was never confined to his own homeland but extended to others, standing resolutely against the
terrorists who were, in truth, the offspring of the United States and Israel
A warrior who was martyred by the very empire that sought to erase his legacy, to bury his name in the shadows of oblivion.Yet, even
His name broke through the digital iron curtain, whispered from lips to lips, etched into the hearts of millions; An Iranian hero named
the opposite of what the United States wished people to believe about him.Oleg Roy, the distinguished Russian writer and producer has chosen
resistance, but as a testament to the profound human spirit, unwavering loyalty, and the sacrifices that echo beyond borders.Unlike many
books about General Soleimani, this novel is neither a historical documentary nor merely a personal biography
unconventional way.The Tehran Times conducted an interview with Oleg Roy about his novel, "Jackals Cannot Defeat a Lion"
Following is the text of the exclusive interview with Roy:Where does the story of this novel begin?The story of "Jackals Cannot Defeat a
Lion" follows two different timelines, one in the present and one from the past
In the present day, an American writer, Margarita Valdenshtein, comes to Iran to write a book criticizing General Soleimani
During this process, she faces the fact that reality has nothing in common with her preconceived image of him
As she gets to know the personality of Hajj Qassem, Margarita literally experiences a complete upheaval of her worldview.Another perspective
is the biography of Hajj Qassem Soleimani himself, presented through the prism of his relationships with those close to him
who were close to him.Who are the main characters, and what inspired you to write "Jackals Cannot Defeat a Lion"?The main characters of the
endured difficult times in the Middle East
We also see the Iranian people, who are the central figures in this book
But it goes without saying that the entire story is based on Hajj Qassem Soleimani.What inspired me to write the novel? On one hand, of
attack on the second anniversary of his death
they tried to destroy through an act of terrorism
Of course, I had an idea of who he was before, but after this event, I literally felt that there are very few people like Hajj Qassem in
each era, and his memory should be preserved.The book discusses the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani
As a Russian author, what motivated you to explore this event in your narrative?The contrast between the Iranians' genuine love for Hajj
Qassem (these are not just grand words; this is reality) and the West's powerless anger in the face of this love
But there was something else that was very important to me personally
The people of Russia and Iran, despite their different religions, their complex historical relationship, and other factors, are very close
in spirit.After all, we also have a tradition of honoring our heroes
Our "Immortal Regiment" is not just an expression of love for our ancestors and the continuity of generations; it is one of the fundamental
by the West that even in our country, it is perceived negatively.How does the novel emphasize the spiritual closeness between Russia and
Iran?In fact, I saw many similarities between us and the Iranians, and the more I delved into my work, the stronger my understanding became
that we, Russians and Iranians, are very close in spirit
I described the meeting between Hajj Qassem and our President with great courage (this meeting really took place, though its details are, of
course, kept secret), and this chapter serves as the quintessence of the idea of the spiritual closeness of our people.How did you approach
the research process for depicting real historical events and figures in your novel?My Iranian friends gave me great help with this
They recorded interviews with people who personally knew Hajj Qassem and handed over many documents, including some that had never been
That is why the main characters of the book (Fereshte and her family), as well as some of the antagonists, are composite figures
while respecting sensitive sources?I tried, as far as possible, to adhere strictly to the real biography of Hajj Qassem, without fabrication
Iran or the involvement of Western intelligence agencies in the Iran-Iraq war
However, I can say one thing: according to independent experts with the appropriate qualifications, the history presented in the novel is as
close to reality as possible
As one of these experts put it, history is like mathematics; any equation can be verified using other equations, and if the system has a
solution, it means that the equation was formulated without errors.What message or insight do you hope readers will take away from your
portrayal of Middle Eastern geopolitics?One well-known figure once referred to the Middle East as the "solar plexus" of humanity
It is the cradle of the three major world religions and the focal point of geopolitical interests for many countries
The events unfolding in the Middle East impact the state of the entire world.However, the most important thing is not even that, but
We are currently building very good, mutually beneficial relations with Iran
with the people of Iran, both historically and in terms of mentality
Of course, I want us to have strong, productive, and truly fraternal cooperation with Iran
The foundation for this should be mutual respect between our people.I also want the reader to recognize this similarity, this spiritual
closeness to the people of Iran, so that in our multipolar future, our two nations may be bound together by sincere and enduring
friendship.If you were to describe General Soleimani in one sentence, how would you do so?Qassem Soleimani was a hero, a great warrior, and
a defender of his faith, his homeland, and his people
At the same time, he was a loving son, brother, and father to those around him, and these aspects of him are inseparable from one
Fereshte protested softly
You see in him a formidable figure on the 'big chessboard,' you see an image, a function, but for us, he is a father."Hajj Qassem Soleimani
was a man of great courage and great love
He had a big heart that encompassed the whole of Iran
That is what the man who had known him personally for years told me
And honestly, those are the words that I remember most of all
General Soleimani was a hero, a great warrior, and a defender of his faith, his homeland, and his people
