Free Republic

February 28, 2006: Production of nuclear material has started, the UN knows about it, and Iran doesn't care. Iran says it will promise not to develop nuclear weapons if the United States and the rest of the word got rid of theirs. Iran appears pretty confident that China and Russia will provide diplomatic support of the UN tries to stop Iranian nuclear weapons developments via sanctions.

MOSCOW [MENL] -- Iran has quietly acquired three fighter-jets from Russia. Russian industry sources said Teheran has procured three Su-25UBT twin-seat attack aircraft from Moscow. The sources said the contract was concluded in 2005 and deliveries would take place in 2006. The deal marked the first Iranian purchase of the Su-25. In 2001, Iran negotiated with Georgia for surplus MiG-25s, but the two countries failed to reach agreement. The sources said the Su-25UBT marked the most advanced model of the attack aircraft. They said the fighters received new electronic warfare and jamming systems.

Moscow, Jan. 14 (AP): Russia's Defence Minister on Friday defended his country's military contacts with China, insisting that the cooperation would not upset the security balance in the Far East despite Japanese concerns about Beijing's moves to boost its defence capability. Defence contacts between China and Russia "have developed, are developing and will develop, I can assure you of that," Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, said after a meeting with his Japanese counterpart. Since the 1991 Soviet collapse, Moscow and Beijing have developed what they call a strategic partnership, pledging commitment to a "multipolar world" - a term that highlights their...