Tehran – he was more than just a soldier – he was a guardian, guardian. Although the battle never locked up in his homeland, the heroes of the realm of truth, which expanded to others, stood firm against the terrorists who were actually descendants of the United States and Israel. The very empire martyr who sought to erase his legacy buried his name in the shadow of oblivion.
But even Zuckerberg’s algorithm could not silence him. His name whispered from lip to lip, breaking through digital iron curtains engraved in the hearts of millions. An Iranian hero named General Qassem Soleimani.
Qassem Soleimani was a warrior known in many lands, a well-respected international hero. This is the opposite of what the US wanted people to believe in him.
Oleg Roy, a well-known Russian writer and producer, chose to immortalize this towering figure. Through the pages of Roy’s novel “The Jackals Cannot Defeat the Lion,” the story of General Soleimani not only as a chronological chronology of war and resistance, but also a deep human spirit, unwavering loyalty, sacrifice that resonates beyond boundaries. It is said as proof of this.
Unlike many books on General Soleimani, this novel is neither a historical documentary nor just a personal biographer. Instead, it is a literary novel, woven into symbolism and storytelling. This illustrates the life of General Soleimani in a natural, deep and unconventional way.
The Tehran Times interviewed Oleg Roy about his novel “The Jackals Can’t Defeat the Lion.” Below is the text from an exclusive interview with Roy.
Where does the story of this novel start?
The story “The Jackals Can’t Defeat the Lion” follows two current timelines and one past timeline. Currently, American author Margarita Waldenstein is coming to Iran and writing a book criticizing General Soleimani. During this process, she faces the fact that reality has nothing in common with his preconceived notions. As she learns about Hajj Kasem’s personality, Margarita literally experiences a totally radical change in her worldview.
Another perspective is the biographies of Hajj Kasem Soleimani himself, presented through the prism of his relationship with people nearby. This allows the reader to see his personality and experience in a more personal way through the eyes of those who were with him.
Who is the main character, and what prompted you to write “Jackals cannot defeat a lion”?
The book’s main character – on one side is Iranian police officers Margarita Waldenstein and Feresh Karmani Bethani, who endured difficult times in the Middle East with her extended family. We also see the Iranian people, the central figures of the book. But that goes without saying, the entire story is based on Hajj Qassem Soleimani.
What made you start writing novels? Of course, on the other hand, there were two major crimes two years apart. It is the assassination of General Soleimani himself and the terrifying terrorist attack on the second anniversary of his death. I was impressed by the fact that the victims of this terrorist act were ordinary people who came to the cemetery and came to the cemetery to honor those who came from their free will and brought their whole family. I did.
This is true love. It’s the kind of love they tried to destroy through acts of terror in a moment of helpless rage. Of course I had an idea of who he was before, but after this event I literally felt that there were very few people like Hajj Kasem in each era, and his memory It should be preserved.
The book discusses the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. As a Russian author, what motivates you to explore this event in your story?
A contrast between the real love of Iranians for Hajj Qassem (these are not just grand words; this is reality) and the helpless anger of the West in the face of this love. But there was something else that was very important to me personally. The people of Russia and Iran are very close to the spirit despite their different religions, their complex historical relationships and other factors.
After all, we also have a tradition of honoring heroes. Our “immortal regiment” is not merely an expression of love for the continuity of our ancestors and generations. It is one of the fundamental aspects of our society. Similarly, the Iranians have their own “immortal regiments.” They call them Gastero, Matrosov, and Proholenko Shahid. It is a highly condemned term in the West, and even in our country is perceived negatively.
How does the novel emphasize the spiritual intimacy between Russia and Iran?
In fact, I have seen many similarities between us and the Iranians. And the more I delved into my work, the more I realized that we, the Russians and Iranians, were so close to each other mentally. I have given great courage to describe the meeting between Hajj Qassem and the President (the details of which are kept secret, of course, but this meeting really took place).
How did you approach the research process to portray actual historical events and characters in your novel?
My Iranian friend gave me great help in this. They recorded interviews with people who personally knew Hajj Qassem and handed over many documents, including ones that have never been published before.
Generally speaking, portraying real people, whether they’re currently alive or dead, as book heroes, is a truly delicate process. That’s why the book’s main character (Fereschte and her family) and some of the antagonists are complex characters. However, the other characters in this book are real people, and the mention of which is inevitable.
How did you ensure historical accuracy while respecting sensitive sources?
I have tried to strictly adhere to the true biographies of Hajj Qassem, wherever possible. Some of the sources I have used are not available for publication at this time. For example, concerns about Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against Iraq and the involvement of Western Intelligence Agency in the Iran-Iraq war. But I can say one thing. According to a well-qualified independent expert, the history presented in the novel is as close to reality as possible. As one of these experts said, history is like mathematics. Any equation can be validated using other equations. If the system has a solution, it means that the equation has been formulated without error.
What message and insight do you hope readers will take away from their portrayal of Middle East geopolitics?
A famous person once called the Middle East the “solar plexus” of humanity. It is the cradle of three major world religions and is the focus of geopolitical interest for many countries. Events unfolding in the Middle East affect the state of the world.
But the most important thing is not that, but something else. We are currently building a very good, mutually beneficial relationship with Iran. But that’s not enough. Not only in Iran, but also in other great civilizations, we hope that such relationships will be built in the long term.
We have a lot in common with the Iranian people both historically and mentally. Furthermore, the national character of the Iranians is worthy of respect. Because I have many qualities that I deserve to be praised, such as their integrity in everything. Of course, I would like to see strong, productive and truly supportive of my brothers with Iran. The foundation for this should be mutual respect among our people.
I also want readers to recognize this similarity, this spiritual intimacy with the people of Iran, so in our multipolar future, our two countries will be sincere and enduring friendships may be linked by
If you described General Soleimani in one sentence, how would you do so?
Qassem Soleimani was a hero, great warrior, and defender of his faith, his hometown, and his people. At the same time, he is the loving son, brother and father of those around him, and these aspects of him are inseparable from each other.
Let me show you a quote from my book:
“You say that Hajj Qassem is not an icon for you, he is not a brother. Is that so? Where did such love come from? Politicians are loved as terror and idols. You can. Man.
“It’s not Hajj Kasem,” Fereshte protested softly. “That’s the problem. He was never far away. You see him the scary person on the ‘big chess board’, you see the image, the function, but for us, he is the father. . ”
Hajj Qassem Soleimani was a man of courage and great love. He had a big heart, including all of Iran. That’s what a man who personally knew him for years told me. And honestly, those are the words I remember more than anything else. General Soleimani was a hero, great warrior and defender of his faith, his hometown and his people. At the same time, he was a beloved son, a brother to those who stood by him, inseparable from one another.
AH/SAB