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New Russia-Iran military cooperation has world guessing

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, January 3, 2001

NICOSIA — Iran and Russia have launched what officials term a new stage in their defense cooperation.

Officials would not elaborate the defense cooperation announced on Thursday, which appears to shatter a 1995 agreement by Moscow to halt weapons deliveries to Iran. But they said the deal would remove the logjam that could lead to the sale of up to $7 billion of Russian weapons to Teheran.

"We've just opened a new chapter in our relations, marked by the reopening of military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran," Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev at the end of a three-day visit to Teheran last week. "It was agreed that a new phase of military and technical cooperation would begin between the two sides."

Russian officials said Moscow would train Iranian officers in Russian military schools. They said this would be part of a comprehensive military cooperation that would include the continued transfer of military technology to Iran.

Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said the cooperation included strategic efforts to stop the eastward expansion of NATO and "Israel's presence in the Caucusus."

Later, Shamkhani told the Kuwaiti-based Al Watan daily that Iran would retaliate to any Israeli attack on Lebanon or Syria. "This is very normal and our response would be astounding and unexpected," the defense minister said. "Not all what is known could be said, and not all what is said is reported."

In Washington, U.S. officials closely monitored the Sergeyev visit. "It's not sufficient for Russia simply to call this type of equipment 'defensive,' " State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said. "Some of the equipment reportedly being discussed would pose a serious threat."

Russia has also expanded its defense cooperation with India. The two countries signed a $3 billion deal for the licensed production of 140 Russian Su-30 fighter jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. over the next 17 years.

Wednesday, January 3, 2001

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