Iran and Russia: Trouble in Paradise

Russia Urges Iran To Fulfill UN Demands To Freeze Enrichment
March 13, 2007
Dow Jones Newswires AP

MOSCOW -- Russia has urged Iran to fulfill the U.N. demand to freeze its uranium enrichment program and to cooperate with a U.N. nuclear watchdog, officials said Tuesday. Russian officials made the call during the two-day of talks in Moscow with Ali Hosseinitash, a deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement which appeared to signal Moscow's growing irritation with its close partner. During the talks with Hosseinitash, Moscow emphasized the need for Tehran to " fulfill the demands of corresponding resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency Board."

Russian officials also urged Tehran to "take the necessary constructive steps that would allow an immediate start to the negotiation process," the statement said. Iran insists its enrichment program is peaceful and aimed solely at producing nuclear energy, but the U.S. and its allies believes it serves as a cover for seeking to build atomic weapons. In December, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to impose limited sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment. Senior representatives of the five permanent Security Council members - Russia, China, the U.S., the U.K. and France, along with Germany - have been discussing possible new sanctions against Iran to force it to suspend enrichment efforts. Officials said Monday that the major powers moved closer to agreement on a package of new sanctions against Iran likely to include an embargo on arms exports and an asset freeze on more individuals and companies linked to Tehran's nuclear and missile programs....

None of this deviate from the habits of history -- the Russians have been bamboozling the Iranians for almost 200 years. The mullahs should have known that there is no honor among thieves..hehe