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Iran says Russia won't allow U.S. to use Azerbaijani radar station for
missile defense
NASSER KARIMI, AP Worldstream
Published: Jun 17, 2007
Iran threatened to escalate tensions between Washington and Moscow
Sunday, saying Russia had assured it won't let the U.S. use a radar
station in Azerbaijan for missile defense against Tehran, despite a
promise to America.
The controversy illustrated the complicated relationship between the
three countries at a time when Iran is under pressure for its disputed
nuclear program.
Driven by economic and political interests, Russia has been a fairly
reliable ally to Iran, deflecting U.S. attempts to put extreme pressure
on the country to suspend its nuclear activities, which Washington
believes are cover for a weapons program.
But Russia is also embroiled in a conflict with the U.S. over
Washington's attempts to install a missile defense shield in Eastern
Europe to protect NATO allies against a missile launch by Iran.
Unhappy at the prospect of missiles being deployed in his country's
backyard, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise counteroffer
earlier this month to let the U.S. use a radar station in northeast
Azerbaijan rented by Moscow as a basis for the defense.
Washington had indicated it would study the proposal seriously, but
comments made Sunday by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali
Hosseini could further increase the level of distrust between
Washington and Moscow.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press conference, Hosseini said
Russian officials had privately assured Iran that Putin would not
follow through on the offer he made to the U.S.
"It seems Russia does not plan to make decisions that may cause
instability and insecurity in the region, where it (Russia) is located"
said Hosseini. Azerbaijan shares borders with both Russia to the north
and Iran to the south.
Hosseini said Iran had summoned the Russian and Azerbaijani ambassadors
to Tehran to discuss Putin's proposal. He said Iranian ambassadors in
Moscow and Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, had also discussed the issue
with their host countries.
Russian officials had no immediate comment on Hosseini's claims.
The U.S. made the formal request in January to place a radar base in a
military area southwest of Prague, Czech Republic, and 10 interceptor
missiles in neighboring Poland as part of plans for a missile defense
shield.
But the plans brought strong reaction from both Iran and Russia, which
accuses the U.S. of threatening Russian territory and of trying to
start a new arms race.
Washington has insisted that deployment is not about Russia but about
the potential threat from Iran or North Korea.
Iran has rejected any possible threat to the West by its missile
program, going so far as to call U.S. plans for a missile defense
shield a "joke" because Tehran's missiles do not have the capability to
reach Europe.
Iran has acknowledged that it has a missile with a range of 2,000
kilometers (1,200 miles), a modified version of its Shahab-3. With this
range, Tehran could strike Eastern Europe, but Western Europe would be
out of reach.
Although Western experts believe Iran is developing the Shahab-4
missile, thought to have a range between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers
(1,200-1,900 miles), Iran has not confirmed such reports.
Despite Hosseini's comments Sunday, Iran could have little leverage if
Russia decides to make good on its offer to the U.S. because Tehran is
reliant on Moscow to help delay or water down a third set of U.N.
sanctions against the country for its failure to suspend uranium
enrichment.
In a report last month, the U.N. nuclear watchdog provided the
potential trigger for new U.N. sanctions, saying Iran continued to defy
the Security Council by expanding its enrichment activities. The
process can produce fuel for civilian energy or fissile material for a
bomb, depending on the level of enrichment.
The Security Council first imposed sanctions on Iran in December and
modestly increased them in March. Although Russia voted for both sets
of sanctions and has called on Iran to comply with U.N. demands, it has
used the threat of its veto power on the Security Council to water down
stronger measures pushed by the U.S.
Russia has close economic and political ties with Tehran and, over
objections from the U.S. and others, is helping to build the country's
first nuclear power plant, at Bushehr.
missile defense
NASSER KARIMI, AP Worldstream
Published: Jun 17, 2007
Iran threatened to escalate tensions between Washington and Moscow
Sunday, saying Russia had assured it won't let the U.S. use a radar
station in Azerbaijan for missile defense against Tehran, despite a
promise to America.
The controversy illustrated the complicated relationship between the
three countries at a time when Iran is under pressure for its disputed
nuclear program.
Driven by economic and political interests, Russia has been a fairly
reliable ally to Iran, deflecting U.S. attempts to put extreme pressure
on the country to suspend its nuclear activities, which Washington
believes are cover for a weapons program.
But Russia is also embroiled in a conflict with the U.S. over
Washington's attempts to install a missile defense shield in Eastern
Europe to protect NATO allies against a missile launch by Iran.
Unhappy at the prospect of missiles being deployed in his country's
backyard, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise counteroffer
earlier this month to let the U.S. use a radar station in northeast
Azerbaijan rented by Moscow as a basis for the defense.
Washington had indicated it would study the proposal seriously, but
comments made Sunday by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali
Hosseini could further increase the level of distrust between
Washington and Moscow.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press conference, Hosseini said
Russian officials had privately assured Iran that Putin would not
follow through on the offer he made to the U.S.
"It seems Russia does not plan to make decisions that may cause
instability and insecurity in the region, where it (Russia) is located"
said Hosseini. Azerbaijan shares borders with both Russia to the north
and Iran to the south.
Hosseini said Iran had summoned the Russian and Azerbaijani ambassadors
to Tehran to discuss Putin's proposal. He said Iranian ambassadors in
Moscow and Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, had also discussed the issue
with their host countries.
Russian officials had no immediate comment on Hosseini's claims.
The U.S. made the formal request in January to place a radar base in a
military area southwest of Prague, Czech Republic, and 10 interceptor
missiles in neighboring Poland as part of plans for a missile defense
shield.
But the plans brought strong reaction from both Iran and Russia, which
accuses the U.S. of threatening Russian territory and of trying to
start a new arms race.
Washington has insisted that deployment is not about Russia but about
the potential threat from Iran or North Korea.
Iran has rejected any possible threat to the West by its missile
program, going so far as to call U.S. plans for a missile defense
shield a "joke" because Tehran's missiles do not have the capability to
reach Europe.
Iran has acknowledged that it has a missile with a range of 2,000
kilometers (1,200 miles), a modified version of its Shahab-3. With this
range, Tehran could strike Eastern Europe, but Western Europe would be
out of reach.
Although Western experts believe Iran is developing the Shahab-4
missile, thought to have a range between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers
(1,200-1,900 miles), Iran has not confirmed such reports.
Despite Hosseini's comments Sunday, Iran could have little leverage if
Russia decides to make good on its offer to the U.S. because Tehran is
reliant on Moscow to help delay or water down a third set of U.N.
sanctions against the country for its failure to suspend uranium
enrichment.
In a report last month, the U.N. nuclear watchdog provided the
potential trigger for new U.N. sanctions, saying Iran continued to defy
the Security Council by expanding its enrichment activities. The
process can produce fuel for civilian energy or fissile material for a
bomb, depending on the level of enrichment.
The Security Council first imposed sanctions on Iran in December and
modestly increased them in March. Although Russia voted for both sets
of sanctions and has called on Iran to comply with U.N. demands, it has
used the threat of its veto power on the Security Council to water down
stronger measures pushed by the U.S.
Russia has close economic and political ties with Tehran and, over
objections from the U.S. and others, is helping to build the country's
first nuclear power plant, at Bushehr.