Russia Warns Against Threatening Iran

[norml]

Russia Warns Against Threatening Iran

By STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 48 minutes ago

MOSCOW - A top Kremlin diplomat warned against threatening Iran with sanctions or the use of force, saying that would only aggravate the international standoff over Tehran's suspect nuclear program, Russian media reports said Saturday.

Rather than getting Iran to stop uranium enrichment, a tougher stance could result in Tehran's total refusal to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, said Oleg Ozerov, deputy director of the Foreign Ministry's Middle East and North Africa Department, according to ITAR-Tass.

"We firmly stand today for resolving the problems in and around Tehran diplomatically rather than militarily. Increasing international pressure on Iran has no prospects," Ozerov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

The United States and European allies are pushing for sanctions because of Iran's refusal to suspend its enrichment program, as demanded by the U.N. Security Council. They suspect Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons in violation of its treaty commitments.

The Iranian regime insists the program has only the peaceful purpose of generating electricity. Russia, which has close ties with Iran and is building that nation's first nuclear power plant, opposes sanctions.


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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060423/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear

[raysr]

1. Congats to *

Started the "cold war" back up. Wanna "first strike" Russia Georgie? Do ya punk?

[Earth_First]

2. Of course!

How many billions of dollars do Russia/China have invested in Iranian crude exports?

[megatherium]

8. The Iranians produce 4 million barrels a day, 5% of the world's output.

The Iranians are in the driver's seat.

[cliss]

12. I think so.

Since when is the BUYER more powerful than the SUPPLIER?

[Theduckno2]

3. I will be very interested to see how China weighs in.

This may be a decisive week in the Iran issue and I would be lying if I said I wasn't anxious.

I think that Bush overplayed his relatively weak hand by insisting that all options were still on the table, after news of nuclear strike plans leaked out.

[VegasWolf]

4. Hell, half of us predicted that Bush would never attack Iran. Not even

Brain is that crazy. He's just building up his oil stock portfolios with all his bluffing. I started making big bets on oil stocks myself when I saw all this posturing from Bush. These are glory days to be playing the stock market thanks to Bush's incompetence. Even Bush can make money this way, and Bush is a total failure at everything he touches.

[shadowknows69]

5. That money

feel even the least bit dirty or bloody wolf? Just wonderin. Flame away.

[VegasWolf]

9. LOL. No, it seems to be an intelligent response to a bad situation that

is way beyond my control. Scalping the oil companies is my way at getting back at them for scalping me at the pump. This way I am getting paid every time I fill up.

[shadowknows69]

10. Cool. Good on ya.

On behalf of my fellow taxi drivers who can barely make a living because of the gas prices. We are sincerely glad that you sleep well in the bed we helped buy you. Sorry. Call it like I see it.

[VegasWolf]

11. Like I said, oil prices are WAY beyond MY control. Oil company's

policies are WAY beyond MY control.

[sweetheart]

6. "aggravate the international standoff "

them's serious words, much more serious than war criminal-men are relaying.

"aggravate" is 1 notch short of the new cold war they're looking for,
they'll probably have to pop off a round to get it to the point they
want it.

[acmavm]

7. Just think, if the get the 'new and improved' cold war with Russia,

Rice's degress is worth something again.