Posted on 01/09/2006 5:07:12 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
While the United States and the European Union rely on Russia in its 'efforts' to end a standoff between Iran and the West over the Iranian nuclear program, the Kremlin exploits these negotiations to misinform the West as to the actual continuation of the Russian-Iranian strategic partnership. It is not a journalists' anecdote. The Iranian officials talk about it almost openly inside their own country.
Russia's proposal to enrich Iranian uranium on Russian soil, as well as the progress of the joint construction of a nuclear power plant in Bushehr are at the top of agenda of bilateral talks between the Iranian and the Russian representatives in Tehran. Such statement, according to the Iranian IRNA news agency, was made today by the spokesman of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council (ISNSC), Hossein Entezami. He denied earlier reports in the local press that the meeting was postponed. According to Entezami, the Russian delegation, headed by the Deputy Secretary of the Russian National Security Council Valentin Sobolev and the Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak, arrived in Teheran Friday night. The spokesman emphasized that the Iranian side is satisfied with the results of the talks held on Saturday. Nevertheless, the Iranian TV yesterday quoted Entezami as saying that the agenda of the talks includes a possibility of joint uranium enrichment not only in Russia, but in Iran as well.
Today the Russian delegation is due to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
The Russian official Itar-TASS news agency reports today that the Russian delegation, and in particular – its head, Deputy Secretary of the Russian National Security Council Valentin Sobolev (who in the past was the first deputy of the Russian Federal Security Service – FSB), yesterday held closed talks with ISNSC Deputy Secretary Javad Vaidi. It is also mentioned that the consultations from the Iranian side are attended by other members of the ISNSC, the Atomic Energy Organisation and the Iranian Foreign Ministry. According to information published by the Russian embassy in Teheran, the Russian delegation includes officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Rosatom (Federal Agency for Atomic Energy).
The Russian-Iranian negotiations are held behind closed doors, and no details have been published yet. Latest news came from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi today held a short briefing in Tehran. According to him, Iranian MFA sees these talks in a positive way, and there is hope for reaching mutual consensus. "Two sides discussed different ideas during this negotiation. We see these talks in a positive way, and the Russians show optimism as well. Different formulas are at the agenda. First of all, we need to continue diplomatic process. Then the results of these talks could be evaluated", Iran's MFA spokesman told the reporters.
Observers mention that the tone of the official Tehran has undergone a considerable change. Earlier this week Hamid Reza Asefi told that the Russian proposal is rather "ambiguous", and in case the Russians propose to enrich uranium exclusively in Russia, and not in Iran, this is unacceptable for the Iranians. Keeping in mind the statement by the ISNSC spokesman Hossein Entezami, yesterday quoted by the Iranian TV, saying that the agenda of these talks includes a possibility of the joint uranium enrichment both in Russia, and in Iran, the reason of such tone softening becomes clear.
ping.
"Russia's proposal to enrich Iranian uranium on Russian soil, as well as the progress of the joint construction of a nuclear power plant in Bushehr are at the top of agenda of bilateral talks between the Iranian and the Russian representatives in Tehran"
Wake Up America!
It seems to me that if we (the US/NATO) are not willing to go to war or use airstrikes to eliminate Iran's nuclear capability, then having them enrich the uranium on Russian soil is much safer than doing nothing while they enrich uranium on Iranian soil.
Although personally I believe bombing Iran's nuclear facilities would be a more effective way than negotiations to preventing them from acquiring nukes.
Come on people, you honestly think Russia is looking out for the best interest of ANYONE except themselves. The Russian Bear is not dead, it was only in hibernation.
The Cold War never ended. The USSR needed western capital in order to rebuild and played dead for a decade in order to get it. In the mean time, they have rebuilt their submarine capability and their ballistic missile capability and whenever there is an opportunity to take a pound of flesh from the US or the west, they do so, most often by proxy.
The US used the Afgans to kick Russian butt in the 80's.
I wonder how much resentment still remains in Russia over this and if it is not a motivating force for getting even in some way.
Strategic partnership...until a nuke finds its way into the hands of a Chechen terrorist....Putin is an idiot.
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