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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Russia said worried over Iran's nuclear ambitions |
| 2007-03-21 |
| Russian and Iranian relations seem to have soured. U.S. and European officials reported on Tuesday that Russia has called home some of the people involved in building the Bushehr nuclear reactor. The official reason behind the move is that Iran has been late in paying for the work. Sergei Novikov, a spokesman for Russia’s Federal Nuclear Power Agency, confirmed the personnel withdrawals. Iran denied being late on payments and accused Russia of having a policy of procrastination in constructing Bushehr. Commentary by Iranian state television said that, “Double standard stances by Russian officials regarding Iran’s nuclear issue shows that Russians are not a reliable partner in the field of nuclear cooperation.” In addition to bringing its nuclear experts home, according to a Monday New York Times article, Russia told Iran that it will withhold fuel for Bushehr unless Tehran suspends its uranium enrichment program as the U.N. Security Council demands. The newspaper cited anonymous European, U.S., and Iranian officials as saying that the ultimatum took place last week in Moscow and was given by Igor Ivanov, the secretary of the Russian National Security Council, to Ali Hosseini Tash, Iran’s deputy chief nuclear negotiator. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 yeah give it too them then worry. damn out the vodka down every once in awhile |
| Posted by: sinse 2007-03-21 16:01 |
| #10 Great synopsis, AP. The only stickler is whether Russia's commitment includes prohibiting use of their soil for North Korean plutonium air trans-shipments to Iran (like previous missile component transfers). And, lastly, another chorus of agreement with LH that it is stranger than a snake's suspenders to hear everyone reading off of the same page. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-03-21 13:30 |
| #9 RE: Glenmore's comment #6 is what Deacon and I were talking about last night. Putin knows that the Bushehr installation is going to be tenderized from above before it gets fueled by either Israel or the US. Putin wants his money up front, MMs are unwilling or unable to pay. US sez, we will pay you, Putin to stop with the reactor if you pull out. After all, it makes monetary sense to do this than to conduct major military ops, with all that entails, for now. The MMs and dinnerjacket lose face, credibility, as their militant stance is a paper tiger. With the focus on Kimmie, it is doubtful (in my limited knowledge) that the MMs can get plutonium in the necessary quantities to build missile-capable devices. So the Bushehr non-fueling buys us time in the plutonium department. Now we need to deal with the U235 concentration department. And it seems to me that sabotage of the electrical supply, or related support of the electrical supply to the concentrators can hinder this effort. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-03-21 10:03 |
| #8 Definitely interesting. LH has a good point. When all the stories of many different officials from different countries suddenly are the same. Something big has happened. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-03-21 09:22 |
| #7 I think Glenmore is on the right track. I dont buy that there was no ultimatum. US, euro and IRANIAN officials all coordinating their stories? Nah. Of course the Russkies will deny it in public, they dont want it out in the market that they mess with customers for political reasons. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-03-21 09:18 |
| #6 I wonder about the timing. This change in Russo-Iranian relations comes immediately on the heels of the defection/capture of several fairly significant Iranian people - did one of them provide information that was useful in reducing Russia's confidence in being able to deal with Iran? Perhaps a plan for say, a nuclear attack on Moscow? Or something that showed Putin was complicit in a plan for distribution of illicit nuclear weapons? Other suggestions? Or maybe we offered more money to LEAVE than Iran was offering to STAY? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-03-21 08:32 |
| #5 I think Putins only worry is he won't get paid. |
| Posted by: Flolumble Elmuling1667 2007-03-21 05:10 |
| #4 Putin's Kremlin claiming this sudden concerned for Iran's nuclear (weapons) drive is a smoke screen. If Moscow was really worried about Tehran's jihadist fanatics nuclear (weapons) project they would have never shipped nuclear fuel to Iran, coupled with scores of Russian nuclear advisers. Russia has also equipped Iran's terrorist exporters with various advanced antiaircraft weapons systems to fight the 'infidels'. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2007-03-21 02:34 |
| #3 Osama BL was filmed calling now merely for the USA to be hurt, but for the USA to be eventually destroyed. Elements wid in Israel's Govt believe Radical Iran is preparing to attack the USA-West, not only wid suicide bombings but wid WMD's. Radical Islam = Radical Islam > aware that unless something changes, the day is looming when Amer will be too strong to either challenge or successfully defeat. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-03-21 00:33 |
| #2 Both Russia and China's LR forecasts [2020 -2050] on achieving rough "parity" or "superiority" against the USA is based on predictions/variables that America will steadily but assuredly get weaker, not maintain par or worse get stronger. THIS MEANS AMER MUST BE PREVENTED OR INHIBITED FROM BECOMING STRONGER ANDOR PERM ENTRENCHING GLOBAL MISSLE DEFENSE. Iff Russia-china are going to continue to rely on local ambitions for hegemony and LT superiority against America, THEN THE "STATUS QUO" MUST CHANGE TO THE DETRIMENT OF AMERICA, BY ANY MEANS, AND NOW NOT LATER. THE LONGER THE "STATUS QUO" REMAINS, THE STRONGER AMER IS LIKELY TO BECOME. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-03-21 00:19 |
| #1 Russia is well aware that the "Islamic Bomb/Sword" points to them as well, not just the USA-West. IMO this is the Russian equivalent of them warning NORTH KOREA [read - CHINA] over the latter's nucprogs. FOR ME RUSSIA IS WAITING FOR RADICAL ISLAM = IRAN TO DE FACTO LAUNCH NEW WMD TERROR ATTACK(S) AGAINST AMERICA - they already don't believe Iran will stop trying to dev nuke arsenals, ergo need to make sure Amer is attacked first before Russia is. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-03-21 00:09 |