Russia Sick Of Iran?

Posted on February 28, 2008
Filed Under News, Politics

Diplomatic trick or genuine concern?

Russia warns Iran: stop enrichment or face sanctions

The ultimatum is the strongest signal yet that Russia is toughening its stance towards Iran, which the US, Britain and France suspect of seeking nuclear weapons.

Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said Moscow could back a sanctions resolution the Western powers have drafted and which they want to discuss in the Security Council this week.

“If Iran in the next few days does not stop the enrichment activities of its heavy water project, then yes, Russia … has taken upon itself certain commitments … to support the resolution that has been drafted in the past month,” Churkin told reporters via a video link from New York.

“Russia is constantly insisting that the (UN) Security Council adopt certain sanctions against Iran,” he said.

Naturally, Russia does what is best for Russia. I do believe Russians realize that nuclear Iran is anything but in the interests of Russia and may be they reached the conclusion that stretching the boundaries of the game with Iran went just about too far. Now Russia appears to be facing a dilemma - continuation of nuclear cooperation with Iran and bagging fat contracts, or nuclear neighbor who one day becomes independent in its atomic capabilities and positions itself as a security threat and opponent of Russia on the international nuclear market.

The answer to all that, however, we’ll receive when the UNSC votes for the sanctions