Posted on 08/01/2010 7:16:07 AM PDT by gusopol3
The initial reason for Tehran’s anger was Russia’s decision to vote for new United Nations’ sanctions against the Khomeinist regime. That was compounded by President Medvedev’s assertions that Tehran was, indeed, trying to build a nuclear arsenal and that Russia would not allow that to happen.
Russia has also announced it would not deliver the S300 anti-aircraft missile system that the Islamic Republic paid for in 2007. The system would have significantly increased Iran’s defences against possible air attacks by Israel or the United States.
The Bushehr nuclear power plant, the first of its kind in Iran, presents another piece of the jigsaw.
The Russians were supposed to switch it on in March 2005.
Now, however, they promise to start “final tests” sometime before the end of 2010. Many in Tehran, including Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the former head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency, believe that the Russians will never do so.
(Excerpt) Read more at asharq-e.com ...
The Russians only voted for the sanctions so they could profiteer off of the black market that these sanctions have created.
I believe that all of these events by Russia are maneuverings to influence international & geopolitical events & gain concessions to their advantage.
And there is little advantage to have a bunch of nuclear armed islamic nuts to form on their border.
Indeed, given Obama Hussein's dismantling of parts of our strategic deterrents, they may well have gained them.
“While scaling down its political and diplomatic support for the Islamic Republic, Russia is keen to maintain, if not enhance, its economic ties to Iran. Russia’s trade with Iran amounts to no more than $3 billion a year, making it the 10th foreign partner of the Islamic Republic.
Last week, Lukoil, the Russian state-owned oil giant, offered to sell Iran gasoline in defiance of sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union. In exchange, Lukoil wants an exclusive contract to develop oilfields in the Iranian waters of the Caspian. If Ahmadinejad were to grant Lukoil such a contract, Russia would see part of a dream that it has had since the middle of the 19th century come true.”
Russia second largest oil exporter, if Iran is attacked that portfolio dramatically increases in value. Never trust the Russkies completely.
I don't think Russia was ever worried about a nuclear armed Iran. They knew the U.S. or Israel would prevent that and for years they created as much trouble for both, using Iran, as they could. Now that Russia has an ally in the WH they no longer need Iran.
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