Iran & Russia In Military Talks -- Russia: No "Toughening Of Approach" On Iran
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 20:00 | by uaniadmin<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->Al Jazeera reported that "Iran's defence minister is holding talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow over strengthening military ties, amid speculation Tehran is pushing Moscow to supply it with air defence missiles." (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/02/200921712285257551.html)
AP reported that "Russia does not intend to toughen its policy toward Iran regarding its nuclear program, a senior Russian diplomat said Monday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said it's necessary to intensify international efforts to reach a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear standoff. But Ryabkov added that Russia has no intention to take a harsher attitude to Iran, Russian news agencies reported. 'Our stance on the Iranian nuclear program has no elements which could be interpreted as toughening of approach,' Ryabkov was quoted as saying." (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iBLHJGdHUD5xKiB9QYH6NlZhfTXgD96CSI0G0)
The International Herald Tribune reported that "In the aftermath of Russia's recent natural gas cuts to Europe, Iran is trying to position itself as a potential alternative supplier through a variety of overtures to the West - moves, analysts say, based at least partly on a desire to strengthen its hand for a new round of diplomacy over its uranium enrichment program." (http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=20218958)
IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei wrote in the International Herald Tribune that "After two mostly wasted decades since the end of the Cold War, nuclear disarmament is again high on the international agenda.... The Obama administration's pledge to engage in direct diplomacy with Iran, without preconditions and on the basis of mutual respect, and to seek a grand bargain, is long overdue."
AFP reported that "Iran's judiciary said on Tuesday it has drawn up a bill which aims to ease punishments for minor offenders and make it harder for the courts to sentence children to death for murder." (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itW6Ls9cR27XOgngIny3mpug8K_g)
Iranian press reported that "Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has stated that Baghdad intends to host talks between Iran and the United States over the security situation in Iraq and called for maintaining 'Iran-Iraq-U.S. triangle'. He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the Mehr News Agency published on Monday." (http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=189417)
The Telegraph reported that Israel "is using hitmen, sabotage, front companies and double agents to disrupt the regime's illicit weapons project, the experts say. The most dramatic element of the 'decapitation' programme is the planned assassination of top figures involved in Iran's atomic operations. Despite fears in Israel and the US that Iran is approaching the point of no return in its ability to build atom bomb, Israeli officials are aware of the change in mood in Washington since President Barack Obama took office." (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4640052/Israel-launches-covert-war-against-Iran.html)
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