Russia pushing back on tougher sanctions against Iran

Latimes- Moscow is rallying developing countries to oppose unilateral sanctions on Tehran by the U.S. and its allies.
The move raises questions about efforts against Iran, and U.S. ties with the Kremlin. Reporting from the United Nations — Even as the White House praised Russia for declining to sell antiaircraft missiles to Iran in violation of U.N. sanctions, Russian diplomats were quietly recruiting other countries this week to undercut tougher penalties imposed on the Islamic Republic.
Russia supported weak United Nations sanctions approved in June to pressure Iran over its nuclear program. But it has strongly objected to tougher sanctions added individually by the United States, the European Union and four other countries. It fears those sanctions may end up hurting Russian companies that do business in Iran.
It is unclear whether Russia’s effort at the U.N. this week to rally major developing countries will bear fruit.
But Moscow’s pushback sends a troubling signal about the prospects for more rigorous efforts to force Iran to bend. And it raises questions about whether the Obama administration has much to show for its highly publicized effort to "reset" relations with the Kremlin.More

Obama reaches out to Iran with multiple messages

By Glenn Kessler  Washington Post- Nearly two years after President Obama took office, the broad outlines of his Iran policy are clear: accumulate leverage, keep your options open, and prepare for the worst.
The strategy was illustrated Friday when the president took to the airwaves of Iran, granting a lengthy interview to the BBC Persian service in which he balanced sometimes dissonant themes: praise for the Iranian people; a willingness to seek a diplomatic solution to the impasse over the government’s nuclear ambitions; condemnation of the Iranian president; and rhetorical support for the opposition movement that seeks to topple the leadership with whom Obama needs to make a deal.
The president reiterated that U.S.-led sanctions were not aimed at the Iranian people but were the result of bad decisions made by the Iranian government. At the same time, he held out the promise of better relations if the government changed tack, even as he rebuked Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for "offensive" and "hateful" remarks
the Iranian president made Thursday suggesting that the United States was behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. More…

Defense Minister cautions Russia on S-300 delivery

TABNAK- "It would not be in Russia’s interests to present itself as an unreliable and undependable partner.
Iran’s Defense Minister says Tehran has cautioned Russia not to cave in to Western "pressure" by reneging on a delayed deal to deliver S-300 defense systems.
"A lot of pressure has been exerted on the Russians, and they have so far proven their inability to reach the correct decision," Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi told al-Alam television.
"We have repeatedly said that it would not be in Russia’s interests to present itself as an unreliable and undependable partner," he added. 

Vahidi further stressed that since the UN Sanctions Resolution 1929, which targets Iran’s military and financial sectors, does not specifically ban the delivery of defensive missiles, Moscow has no excuse for refusing to commit to the deal.
"We are not happy to see Russia belittled by the US and Israel, or to see them branded as their scribes," the Iranian general told Fars News Agency earlier on Thursday.
On June 9, the UNSC imposed the US-engineered sanctions resolution against Iran over allegations by Israel and its allies that Tehran is following a military nuclear program.
Following weeks of mixed signals over whether it would use its veto right as a permanent member, Russia conceded to the sanctions efforts after reaching a deal with Washington. 

On June 10, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko, acknowledged that since the deal is not referenced in the fourth round of UNSC sanctions, Moscow is not obliged to freeze the delivery of the air defense missiles to Iran. 

Moscow later claimed that upon better study of the sanctions resolution, it was freezing the delivery.
The decision, which came after lengthy delays by Russia, was severely criticized by Iranian officials. 

Iran says Britain change of policy, only way to mend severely-hit ties

ISNA-Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the only way to mend Iran-Britain severely –hit ties is a change in the policy and performance of the European country’s new government.

In a meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York following request of Hague, Mottaki called Iran’s nuclear activity "transparent" and said Iran has had the longest record in cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

"Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) member states have the legal right to get access to nuclear fuel cycle and Britain has no right to make comments on the issue, the UN Security Council members need to be held accountable for arming some countries with nuclear weapons," Mottaki said.

William Hague on his part said, "Britain does not want to be Iran’s enemy and it is willing to repair ties with Iran."

He also condemned recent terrorist attack in Iran and said his country is ready for cooperation on drug trade in Afghanistan.

Addressing a packed press conference in a New York hotel, president Ahmadinejad said Iran was prepared to set a date for resumption of talks with six world powers to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program, saying October would be the likely time for the two sides to meet.

Ahmadinejad said Iran had no interest in enriching uranium from around 3.5 percent to 20 percent purity but was forced to do so after the world powers refused to provide nuclear fuel that is needed for a Tehran reactor that produces medical isotopes for patients.

Tehran began higher enrichment in February after talks stalled over a U.N.-brokered proposal.

"We were not interested to carry out 20 percent enrichment. They (the U.S. and its allies) politicized the issue. We were forced to do it to support the (medical) patients," Ahmadinejad said in response to a question from The Associated Press. "We will consider halting uranium enrichment whenever nuclear fuel is provided to us."

Ahmadinejad said pressure was counterproductive, but respectful talks will bear fruit.

"The era of following a policy of carrot and stick is over. Even such words are insulting to nations. It’s only good for cowboys and those of retarded people. Definitely it has no effect," he said. "They issued resolutions as talks were underway. Still, we are ready for talks."

The Iranian president said an Iranian representative will probably meet with members of the five permanent members of the Security Council in October.

He suggested that a specific date could be set should European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton contact Iran.

"Probably in October; we are ready for talks. The doors are open for talks within the framework of justice and respect," he said. However, he warned that Iran won’t give in to pressure. "They are definitely mistaken if they think they can trample the rights of the Iranian nation through coercion in the talks."