Putin government rejects U.S. pressure on nuclear aid to Iran
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Saturday, January 15, 2000
MOSCOW -- Russia under acting President Vladimir Putin has rejected U.S. appeals for Moscow to end
aid to Iran's missile and nuclear programs.
Officials said Russian leaders have reassured Iran that their government
would not halt the flow of technology to Iran's military programs. They said
the aid would continue despite the prospect of additional U.S. sanctions.
Russia, the officials said, regards Iran as a key ally in confronting
what they termed U.S. hegemony. They said other key Russian allies include
China and India, cooperation with whom intensified after NATO's campaign
against Yugoslavia.
The latest expression of support for Iran came from Russian Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov, who termed cooperation between Teheran and Moscow as
vital. In a meeting with Iranian vice parliamentary speaker Hassan Rowhani,
Ivanov termed relations with Iran as strategic and dismissed any attempt to
disrupt the ties.
Ivanov said Iran and Russia cooperate in the Caspian Sea, including
efforts against a U.S.-sponsored oil pipeline from Turkmenistan and
counterterrorism. The foreign minister said Moscow opposes U.S. attempts to
isolate Iran.
For his part, Rowhani said Iran and Russia need to make decisions on
their strategic and longstanding relations. He said Teheran is ready to
settle any differences with Moscow.
Rowhani did not elaborate but diplomatic sources said the two countries
have argued over Teheran's payment of debts to Moscow. Other arguments
concern the development of the Iranian nuclear reactor at Bushehr.