Ynet News:
Russia warns Israel not to attack Iran
Russian deputy FM says military action in Islamic Republic would be catastrophic for region, world
Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be a disastrous and played down the failure of a UN nuclear agency mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over the Iranian atomic program.
"Of course any possible military scenario against Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of international relations," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told a news conference.
It was one of Russia's starkest warnings against resorting to force, an option Israel and the United States have not ruled out if they conclude that diplomacy and increasing sanctions will not stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
"I hope Israel understands all these consequences ... and they should also consider the consequences of such action for themselves," Gatilov said. "I hope a realistic approach will prevail, along with a sensible assessment."
Russia, China as well as many allies of the United States are concerned that any military action against Iran could engulf the Middle East in wider war, which would send oil prices rocketing at a time of global economic troubles.
Iran has threatened to retaliate for any attack, or even if it feels endangered, by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for Gulf oil exports crucial to the global economy, and hitting Israel and US interests in the Middle East.
'Nuke talks could be revived'
Tehran has refused to stop sensitive nuclear work such as uranium enrichment despite four rounds of UN sanctions and a slew of additional measures imposed by the United States and the European Union, which fear Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons.
The Islamic Republic says its efforts to produce nuclear fuel are solely for electricity generation.
Addressing the failed round of talks between the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Gatilov suggested that Iran should be more cooperative but there is more room for diplomacy. He said Iran's discussions with Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France and Germany, frozen for a year, could still be revived.
"Iran and IAEA should boost their dialogue in order to rule out the ... possibility of the existence of military dimensions in the Iranian nuclear program. We hope that this dialogue will be continued," he said.
"I think we still have opportunity to continue diplomatic efforts, to renew the six-nation talks."
Russia, which built Iran's first nuclear power plant, has often stressed the need for talks and that too much coercive pressure on Iran is counterproductive, a stance that has prompted concerns Moscow has helped Tehran play for time.
Last week, Russia said global powers must be serious about proposing solutions Iran might accept, warning that Tehran's desire for compromise was waning as it moved closer to being technically capable of building atomic weapons.
2 comments:
As if Russia thinks we are that stupid. This nuclear dance has been going on for years. Iran has no intention of compromising. Seems to me, Russia is playing an old game, one they will ultimately lose.
Remember Stalin/Hitler? I guess this new/old Russia has a short memory. Russia is Iran's pawn, so is China. They are useful tools, to help stall the world.
In the meantime, Iran continues on their merry way building the ultimate "wall". Once they have the bomb, they will be able to do anything they want, to anyone.
Israel may hit Iran. If they do, we will have WWIII. Might as well just get it started.
Kind of reminds of something I heard tonight while watching a documentary on Stalin. A man who was falsly imprisoned by him said that when the police came to arrest him, "good, now the worries and shaking are over with".
I've lived most of my life waiting for this war to start. Lets just get it over with.
Midnight,
The Un-Necessary Inspector went to Teheran to be "Talked to death" by Ajad!
Now Ajad has 5OOO "A" Bombs + super ballistic intergalactic missiles!
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