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US, Russia reach deal for Iran sanctions
Published: 26 May, 2010, 02:23
Edited: 27 May, 2010, 21:36
TAGS: Nuclear, Russia, Iran, USA
The United States has reached an agreement with Russia to place new sanctions on Iran, which may lift restrictions on the sale of Russian arms to the country.
The US needs Russia to agree to sanctions against Iran in order to push them though UN Security Council and has entered an agreement lifting US sanctions against the Russian military complex and has agreed not to ban the sale of the Russian S-300 air defense system to Iran.
“Russia has a need to consolidate its influence in the former Soviet periphery,” said Reva Bhalla, director of analysis at the Global intelligence firm STRATFOR.
According to Bhalla, the ability for Russia to sell the S-300 to Iran is a huge bargaining chip. This allows Russia to maintain a strategic advantage in the region and balance US influence in Central Asia.
The S-300 missile air defense system could be used by Iran to defend nuclear facilities from possible air strikes. The US remains concerned about the sale of the S-300, partially because Iran could use the system to defend against a possible Israeli attack, and will likely try to convince Russia not to go through with the sale.
“At the same time we’re seeing the United States follow through with its own threat of delivering a battery of Patriot missiles to Poland, which is extremely concerning to the Russians as well. The question is whether Russia is going to give up some of its leverage in the form of the S-300 sale as sort of a tit-for-tat with the United States, or if it can reach some sort of understanding with the United States, which in effect would leave Iran in a very vulnerable position,” said Bhalla.
The US has few good options at this point and the arms agreement may be trying to show Iran that it may not always have a friend in Russia.
“The military option is not very feasibly. The sanctions option is largely meaningless. The draft circulating the UN Security Council is really just more of a symbolic effort for the United States to show that it have more international support, particularly from the Russians and Chinese,” said Bhalla.
25.05.2010, 10:42
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26.05.2010, 02:28
Iran sanctions deal to lift US sanctions on RussiaThe United States has reached an agreement with Russia that will allow Russian arms sales to Iran in return for Russian support on sanctions against the Islamic Republic. |
The US gets "legal" UN cover, gets UN sanctions on Iran, which as we have seen, was the predicate legal cover for the invasion and occupation of Iraq, which appears to be permanent. Nothing makes any sense anymore, nothing at all.
Z22 US have been working hard to break the Iran/Russian relationship for the last few years now. The white ogress seems has been able to seduce the Russians lately. But whatever the result the European countries are bonded to the US and would eventually single out the Russians when the time comes. Iran for Russia is like Europe for the US.
It is hard to see through the fog of the deceptions. The clarity is rare. There is clearly some form of coordination among BRIC countries. Meeting in Brazil, followed by visits to Moscow, and Medvedev's visit to Turkey and Syria, all pointed out to high level of activity. There is clarity in the hard liners in US that are for unilateral show of force, and absolutely against any multi-polarity. These ufortunately reign supreme in US Senate, regadless of party. And have a strong majority in the House of Representatives, regardless of party. They are getting help from the financial movers and shakers, and do not mind forcing US populace to "tighten the belt", from the loss of jobs and millions of houses, to the loss of retirement funds. The money is redirected into "war" spending, no questions asked any more as daily unbelievable sums are being doled out. Financial gaming put Europe on notice, and Euro is no longer a threat to becoming a reserve currency. Mission accomplished. Obama has little support. Gates and Clinton are card-carrying members of neocon fraternity, and imposed on him up front. Yet, BRIC has no other choice but to try supporting Obama. This is where the fog gets really thick. Are sanctions a meaningless show to sideline the neocon machine? Is Russia's position on Iran the replay of Russia-Belarus occasional tiffs that freeze the big mouths of NGO squakers long enough to accomplish a delicate move? It looks like. The neocon owned media (majority) would be all over Russia (their favorite target), if even percieved to be friendly with Iran. They will keep quiet (for now), but long enough for whatever is to play out will play out. What is it? I do not think ANYBODY knows. The layers of deception are too thick. In a few months there may be some clarity. MAYBE. The new actors on BRIC stage now include Turkey, so it is BRICT now. The new international community is emerging.