Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Russia backs Iran nuclear rights
BBC ^ | Tuesday, 16 October 2007, 19:40 GMT 20:40 UK | BBC Staff

Posted on 10/16/2007 10:44:26 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Russia backs Iran nuclear rights

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) and Vladimir Putin

The historic meeting focused on Iran's nuclear programme

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has offered qualified support for Iran's nuclear programme on a visit to Tehran.

Mr Putin told journalists that "peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed" and cautioned against using force to resolve the dispute over Iran.

But he was evasive when asked whether the Bushehr nuclear plant Russia is building would be finished on time or if Moscow would supply nuclear fuel.

Iran wants Russian help in its dispute with the West over its nuclear aims.

Up to now Moscow has blocked any new UN sanctions, saying it wants to enable the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to work with Iran on clearing up outstanding issues.

But Moscow is seeking Iranian compromise over the issue, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran.

Iran 'peaceful'

Mr Putin met Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for talks after the two men joined the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan for a summit of the leaders of nations surrounding the Caspian Sea.

Bushehr nuclear power station (image: DigitalGlobe)
Russia is helping to complete Bushehr's nuclear reactor

Heavy security measures were in place amid reports of an alleged plot to kill Mr Putin - reports Mr Putin has shrugged off.

At a news conference, Mr Putin pointed out that the Caspian Sea leaders had signed a declaration which "expressed the idea that peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed".

In the declaration, the leaders also pledged not to allow their territory "for waging aggression or other military action against any of the parties".

Azerbaijan - a US ally - has repeatedly said it would not allow American troops to use its territory to attack neighbouring countries.

Washington has refused to rule out using force against Iran, which it accuses of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons - a charge which Tehran vehemently denies.

Later on Tuesday Mr Putin also held talks with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Russian president said Moscow had an interest in a "strong Iran" and that he wanted deeper ties with the country, state television reported.

Bushehr difficulties

But Mr Putin was evasive about some aspects of Russia's support for Iran.

He refused to confirm whether Moscow would supply the Iranian nuclear plant at Bushehr with nuclear fuel once it is complete, or say whether the plant's construction would be finished speedily.

If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home

Vladimir Putin


Iran and Russia uneasy allies

Mr Putin blamed legal and financial difficulties for the delays that have long dogged the completion of the $1bn building programme undertaken by Russia.

But he said Moscow would not renege on its commitments to complete the plant.

His careful stance suggested Russia is attempting to retain firm ties with Iran without angering the United States, commentators suggest.

It is not clear quite how much support Mr Putin is prepared to give Iran in its showdown with the West.

(left to right) Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill
In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran

Mr Putin will certainly be calling for more flexibility from the Iranian government over the nuclear issue and no-one should forget the deep legacy of suspicion that exists between Russia and Iran, our correspondent says.

Moscow has urged the international community to show patience in its dealings with Iran.

"It is futile to frighten Iran and its people - they are not scared," Mr Putin said before the visit.

It is the first visit to Tehran by a Kremlin leader since World War II.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; iraniannukes; nukes; putin; redjihad; russia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 10/16/2007 10:44:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Seems “W” should have looked into Putin’s head, instead of his soul.


2 posted on 10/16/2007 10:45:46 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat; SunkenCiv; blam

Ominous was the thought on Kudlow and Company today....


3 posted on 10/16/2007 10:46:45 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Iran also plays footsie with the Chechens, will Putin feel the same way if Iran gives the Chechens a “device.”


4 posted on 10/16/2007 10:48:44 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

One can only hope that somehow Iranian uranium will first find its way to the Kremlin now that Moscow has chosen East over West.


5 posted on 10/16/2007 10:50:36 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (No buy China!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Fred Nerks; KlueLass; ...

Yeah, I’m sure that’ll work, and that Putin only has the interests of the peaceloving people of the world at heart. What a relief. ;’) Thanks E.


6 posted on 10/16/2007 10:56:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, October 16, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Yes Mr. Putin, 'peaceful' nuclear capabilities should be alright for Iran to have. No one has any problem with them building nuclear reactors to provide power to their industrial and civilian base.

We've offered that to them. Repeatedly.

They want refinement capability that's only useful to produce weapons grade material, and also want to destroy Israel. That's the problem, you dolt.

7 posted on 10/16/2007 10:58:24 PM PDT by ThinkClearly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

The world in a slow motion train wreck...

One can see all the signs...

Yet onward we go...


8 posted on 10/16/2007 11:11:44 PM PDT by DB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DB

...and the band plays on.


9 posted on 10/16/2007 11:14:33 PM PDT by americanophile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
So Putin went to get a first hand look at his investment, after all it was Russia that provided the nuclear kit to Iran. .... Old Saddam was wanting the same deal.... Wonder what exactly Iran had to give up to get their nuclear toys? Saddam was using oil...
10 posted on 10/16/2007 11:17:59 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Russia seems almost as if an imputent child.

What happens when Iran has the bomb and threatens to use it on them or else?

Why does Russia always seem to side with people who could do it as much or more harn than us?


11 posted on 10/16/2007 11:20:17 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Hillary has pay fever. There she goes now... "Ha Hsu, ha hsu, haaaa hsu, ha hsu...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Russia is the new France.


12 posted on 10/16/2007 11:29:00 PM PDT by spna (Lawton-Ft. Sill OK.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Well, that means the American left now has its marching orders. I’ve never know them to take a position in opposition to Russia.

Watch for the media and the left to start to get on board and support peaceful nuclear program for Iran.

Going to be interested in exactly how they are going to couch this....


13 posted on 10/16/2007 11:51:32 PM PDT by patriciaruth (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1562436/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Reagan is rolling over in his grave as we speak.


14 posted on 10/17/2007 2:18:23 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache (No One Gets To Their Heaven Without A Fight)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Is he at all concerned about Israel’s right to defend itself against nuclear terrorism? Perhaps the American State Department should reconsider its own positions on that matter. Things could be a lot simpler if we stopped demanding that Israel consult the United Nations before making the slightest move.


15 posted on 10/17/2007 3:47:27 AM PDT by Old 300
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne
Why does Russia always seem to side with people who could do it as much or more harn than us?

Excellent question. For quite a while I've thought Pootie has a Napoleon complex. After listening to Bruce Bartlett interviewed last night about his new book where he called recent Bush/Putin meetings "bizarre" and listening to some of the details he cites to bolster his assertions, I'm now thinking that Pootie is just nuts. What I don't get is Pootie's 70% approval rating.....

16 posted on 10/17/2007 3:59:04 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (Thinking of voting Democrat? Wake up and smell the Socialism!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Before this goes any farther down the road, Iran’s nukes must be taken out. It’s that simple.


17 posted on 10/17/2007 4:52:30 AM PDT by xzins (If you will just agree to the murdering of your children, we can win the presidency)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Red Badger

I’m wondering where North Korea fits into all this.

Ping to red badger...


18 posted on 10/17/2007 7:25:48 AM PDT by Froufrou
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; chan; GOP_1900AD

This appears to bode ill.


19 posted on 10/17/2007 1:04:17 PM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross; Froufrou; xzins; DoughtyOne; Thermalseeker; NormsRevenge; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; ...
I Just posted this:

Bush warns of World War III if Iran goes nuclear

20 posted on 10/17/2007 2:06:08 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson