Posted on 08/26/2006 12:42:47 AM PDT by familyop
MOSCOW (Reuters) - International concerns over Iran's nuclear programme do not warrant any discussion at the moment of sanctions against Tehran, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Friday.
"I know of no instances in world practice and previous experience in which sanctions have achieved their aim and proved effective," Ivanov, shown on NTV television, told reporters in Russia's far east.
"Moreover, I believe that the question is not so serious at the moment for the U.N. Security Council or the group of six to consider any introduction of sanctions. Russia stands for further political and diplomatic efforts to settle the issue."
Iran offered on Tuesday to start serious talks over its nuclear programme but there was no sign it had agreed to a U.N. Security Council demand that it freeze uranium enrichment by August 31 or face the prospect of sanctions.
A U.S. State Department spokesman said on Thursday there was still time for Iran to comply with an August 31 deadline to suspend uranium enrichment.
The five permanent Security Council members -- the United States, China, Britain, France and Russia -- along with Germany have also offered a package of economic and technical incentives to help persuade Iran to renounce uranium enrichment.
Russia, engaged in building a nuclear power plant in Iran, has consistently said sanctions would hinder diplomacy.
Iran says it is enriching uranium as part of a nuclear programme intended to produce electricity. Western countries, led by the United States, accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear bomb.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is the Western power least keen to resort to sanctions, said on Thursday the Iranian reply was unsatisfactory.
That comment was echoed by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Friday, though he also said it was important to avoid escalating a conflict with Iran and the Muslim world.
"For the moment it is not satisfactory," he said on RTL radio.
"But the worst thing would be to escalate into a confrontation with Iran on the one hand, and the Muslim world with Iran, and the West. That would be the clash of the civilisations that France today is practically alone in trying to avoid."
...while they sell arms to them.
"I know of no instances in world practice and previous experience in which sanctions have achieved their aim and proved effective,"
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Commence bombing...........
Clearly Iran is not attempting to avoid a clash of civilizations. When will France understand this?
Only once - in Cuba during the missle crisis. Of course, it also required a Naval blockade, which would be logistically impossible with Iran.
May the bombing commence - MOAB
I don't think sanctions would accomplish much either.
"Russia says no need to discuss Iran sanctions"
Good, bypass these corrupt idiots. Lets roll.
He's right about that. We need a military solution to this problem. The current Iranian gummint needs to go.
Evict the UN and then take the Iranian nuclear program out using military strikes.
It is not just arms. Iran is so important trading partner for Russia, that the trade sanctions on Iran would be also on Russia.
Trade sanctions in 1990s on Iraq and Libya deprived countries of Eastern Poland (including Poland) the main source of dollars. This was in the crucial time of reforms.
International sanctions on Iraq sure didn't stop Russia making tons of cash doing business with Saddam through the UN's "Oil for Palaces" scam.
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