Russia’s FM Warns Against Issuing Ultimatums To Iran Over Its Nuclear Program

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia's foreign minister said Friday that Iran shouldn't face threats over its nuclear program and that a quick settlement of the standoff over it isn't realistic.

Sergey Lavrov said the latest round of talks in Moscow this week between six world powers and Iran has been "quite useful," even though there was no breakthrough. He said talks must continue without "any artificial deadlines or ultimatums."

Iran insists its uranium enrichment program serves only civilian purposes, but the U.S., Israel and others suspect it's a cover for building nuclear weapons. Israel has accused Iran of stretching out the talks to move closer to the ability to make an atomic bomb, and it has threatened to attack the Islamic Republic as a last resort.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is expected to face a strong Israeli demand to take a tougher line on Iran when he visits the Jewish state next week. Lavrov's statement signaled, however, that Moscow will likely respond to Israeli calls for stronger action with its usual advice to be patient and continue talks.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russias-fm-warns-against-issuing-ultimatums-to-iran-over-its-nuclear-program/2012/06/22/gJQArTgUvV_story.html

[David__77]

1. I think that the attacks against Russia relating to Syria will have an impact regarding Iran.

Specifically, in the past, Russia had wavered on the principle of sovereignty and anti-intervention regarding Iran. It has so far defended these principles in relation to Syria. Since the same forces attacking Syria are also anti-Iran, I suspect Russia will extend its positive influence to the Iran question as well.