NEO-SOVIETS ISSUE WARNINGS

Russia warns against Iraq-style “proof” in Iran nuclear standoff

ATHENS - The United Nations must not rely on the kind of evidence used to justify slapping sanctions on Iraq ahead of the 2003 US-led invasion when considering Iran’s nuclear programme, Russia said on Saturday.

In an interview published in Saturday’s edition of Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said the UN should only consider sanctions if presented with “concrete and incontrovertible evidence that Iran is attempting to build nuclear weapons and clear evidence that it is supporting international terrorism.”

Ivanov added that it would be “unacceptable to repeat the scenario of Iraq which had sanctions applied against it without complete evidence,” he said.

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Ivanov insisted that the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme ”could only be solved by taking the diplomatic and political route” with “closer co-operation between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

Moscow is opposed to the idea of imposing sanctions on Iran, despite the fact that Tehran ignored a August 31 UN Security Council deadline to suspend its uranium enrichment activities.
Referring to the US take on the current crisis, Lavrov on Thursday criticised what he called “the obsession with sanctions.”

Asked separately about US sanctions slapped on two Russian arms companies that have contracts with Iran, Ivanov said the measures ”would not lead to a revision” of his country’s technical and military agreements with Tehran.

Lavrov meanwhile on Sunday called for the sanctions against the two firms — Sukhoi and Rosoboronexport — to be lifted.

This is of no surprise, since the Neo-Soviets have monetary interests in Iran as well as being "great defenders of Islam" as was reported by the blog: Gates of Vienna.

"“Russia has always been the most faithful, reliable and consistent defender of the interests of the Islamic world. Russia has always been the best and most reliable partner and ally. By destroying Russia, these people (terrorists) destroy one of the main pillars of the Islamic world in the struggle for rights (of Islamic states) in the international arena, the struggle for their legitimate rights,” Putin was quoted by Itar —Tass as saying, drawing applause from Chechen parliamentarians.

“Those who organize such activity certainly do this deliberately, understanding what goals they want to achieve,” Putin went on to say. The leaders of the main Islamic states understand this, he added.

“For this reason their representatives were present at the general voting in the referendum on the Constitution of the Chechen Republic, they were at the presidential elections; both the Organization of Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States, our colleagues and friends were present at the elections to the parliament.”

Putin said that “member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference have unanimously passed a decision that Russia will begin working as an observer on a permanent basis”.

“And we shall continue our activity within the framework of this organization. Quite recently a delegation of Russia’s Muslims has been to Mecca to discuss the problems of Muslim world development with their brothers. I repeat: Russia will pursue this policy,” the president added."

Pertinent Links:

1) Russia warns against Iraq-style “proof” in Iran nuclear standoff

2) Gates of Vienna

3) Putin Calls Russia Defender of Islamic World