@@ Iran's aversion to Russia @@

United Press International (UPI)
February 24, 2006

Iran's Aversion to Russia

By Mark N. Katz
Email: mkatz[AT]gmu.edu

http://www.state.gov/cms_images/katz_1351.jpg
Photo of Mark Katz

Iran has announced that it will begin to enrich uranium for its nuclear power
program. Moscow has offered to enrich Iran's uranium on Russian territory. Much to
the dismay of America, Europe, and Russia, however, Iran is resisting this offer.
Many see this as proof positive that Iran does not trust Russia to keep its end of
the bargain.

While Washington is angry with Russia for building a nuclear reactor for Iran, Tehran
is angry with Moscow for not completing this project even though Russian technicians
have been working on it for many years.

The Iranians also saw how Moscow recently cut back on gas deliveries to Ukraine and
fear that it might withold enriched uranium deliveries for Iran.

Finally, Tehran was furious over Russian support for the February 4 American-urged
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting of Iran to the UN Security
Council -- even though Moscow can use its Security Council veto to prevent any
serious sanctions being imposed on Iran.

Deep-seated distrust for Russia was evident in several statements made by Iranian
officials and commentators in February 2006.

In reaction to Russia's (and China's) February 4 IAEA vote, Mohsen Armin, spokesman
for the Organization of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution said, "It was
perfectly obvious from the start that countries like Russia and China would advertise
support for Iran until the last minute to take the greatest possible concessions from
America and Europe and ultimately make deals with the two powers and advance their
national interests... China and Russia are not in positions to undermine their
relations with major powers for the sake of Iran" (Sharq newspaper, February 6,
2006).

In other words, Mohsen Armin is not surprised by this Russian (and Chinese)
"betrayal" of Iran, and thinks that anyone who expected otherwise is naive.

Similarly, Majles deputy Javad Jahangirzadeh stated that, "Iranians have bitter
memories of relations with Russia over the past one hundred years... The attitude of
the Russians toward Iran threatens our independence and humiliates our people" (Mehr
News Agency (MNA), Feb. 18, 2006). It is clear that he expects any interaction with
Russia to be harmful to Iran.

Another Majles deputy, Dr. Ali Abbaspour Tehranifard was quoted saying, "Our
negotiators have to understand that talks through Russia will do us no good. He said
that the Russian proposal that enrichment could take place on Russian soil was
useless and without content. He said: Russia should stay faithful to its
international commitments. It should settle the case of the atomic reactor in Bushehr
and act according to its agreements" (Iranian Students New Agency (ISNA), Feb. 19,
2006).

For Dr. Tehranifard the failure of the Russians to complete the nuclear reactor that
they have been working on all these years provided a good reason to doubt that Moscow
would honor any promise to supply Iran with enriched uranium.

Finally, Ali Reza Akbari, former deputy minister of defense and now head of the
Tasmim Strategic Research Center, stated bluntly that, "Iran has no interest in
having relations with a weak and second-hand Russia" (Siyasat-e Ruz, February 19).

No further elaboration is needed about how he feels!


* Mark N. Katz (http://www.state.gov/s/p/of/proc/tr/10414.htm) is a professor of
government and politics at George Mason University
(http://www.gmu.edu/departments/pia/facultypages/katz.html).

* Alana Romanella, a GMU political science graduate student, provided research
assistance for this article.
http://washtimes.com/upi/20060224-040518-5822r.htm

Putin's Pro-Israel Policy by Mark Katz
http://www.meforum.org/article/690

An American is invited to watch an unusual video in Tehran. Vaaghe'an keh!
http://www.iranian.com/Travelers/Dec97/Katz/

A portrait of Yemeni Ali Abdullah Salih by Mark Katz
http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=400&issue_id=2933&article_id=23674


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