Vladimir Putin set to bait US with nuclear aid for Tehran

>From The Sunday Times
September 7, 2008
Vladimir Putin set to bait US with nuclear aid for Tehran
Mark Franchetti in Moscow

Russia is considering increasing its assistance to Iran's nuclear
programme in response to America's calls for Nato expansion eastwards
and the presence of US Navy vessels in the Black Sea delivering aid to
Georgia.

The Kremlin is discussing sending teams of Russian nuclear experts to
Tehran and inviting Iranian nuclear scientists to Moscow for training,
according to sources close to the Russian military.

Moscow has been angered by Washington's promise to give Georgia ?564m
in aid following the Russian invasion of parts of the country last
month after Tbilisi's military offensive. Kremlin officials suspect
the US is planning to rearm the former Soviet republic and is furious
at renewed support for attempts by Georgia and Ukraine to join Nato.

Last week a third US Navy ship entered the Black Sea with aid bound
for Georgia. Moscow has accused the Americans of using the vessels to
deliver weapons but has failed to provide any evidence.
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Vladimir Putin, the prime minister of Russia, who has been the driving
force during the crisis, has declared he will take unspecified action
in response.

"Everything has changed since the war in Georgia," said one source.
"What seemed impossible before, is more than possible now when our
friends become our enemies and our enemies our friends. What are
American ships doing off our coast? Do you see Russian warships off
the coast of America?

"Russia will respond. A number of possibilities are being considered,
including hitting America there where it hurts most ? Iran."

Increasing nuclear assistance to Iran would sharply escalate tensions
between Moscow and Washington. Over the past 10 years Russia has
helped Iran build its first nuclear power station in Bushehr. Iran
claims the plant is for civilian purposes. Officially at least, Moscow
accepts that. The West has little doubt the aim is to build a nuclear
bomb.

But diplomats say that despite its help with the Bushehr plant, Moscow
has so far played a constructive role as a mediator between the regime
in Tehran and the West and by backing United Nations sanctions.

Earlier this year, in one of his last actions as president, Putin
added Russia's stamp of approval to a UN security council resolution
imposing fresh sanctions against Iran.

The document bans, with the exception of the Bushehr project,
dual-technology exports that could be used for civil nuclear purposes
and missile production.

"After the war in Georgia it's difficult to imagine relations between
Russia and America getting worse," said a western diplomat. "Russia
giving greater nuclear assistance to the Iranians would do the trick ?
that's for sure."

Last month Russia agreed to sell missiles to Syria. "The mood among
the hawks is very bullish indeed," said one source who did not rule
out a resumption of Russian military action in Georgia to take the
port of Batumi, where American vessels are delivering aid.

Hardliners were infuriated last week by the visit to Georgia of Dick
Cheney, the American vice-president. "Georgia will be in our
alliance," Cheney said. He also visited Ukraine, whose Nato
aspirations could make it the next flashpoint between Russia and
America.

However in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, events appeared to be moving
Moscow's way. Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-western president, is
fighting to stay in power in a crisis that could see him impeached.

"I'm amused by claims in the West that Russia is the loser in this
crisis," said a former Putin aide. "What would Washington do if we
were arming Cuba the way it armed Georgia? The postSoviet days when we
could be pushed around are over."


Russia may push forward with S-300 sales to Iran
17:41 | 01/ 09/ 2008

MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia may proceed with plans to
sell advanced S-300 air defense systems to Iran under a secret
contract believed to have been signed in 2005, a Russian analyst said
on Monday. (Russian mobile surface-to-air missile systems - Image
gallery)

Commenting on an article in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper saying
Russia is using the plans as a bargaining chip in its standoff with
America, Ruslan Pukhov, director of Moscow-based Center for Analysis
of Strategies and Technologies, said: "In the current situation, when
the U.S. and the West in general are stubbornly gearing toward a
confrontation with Russia after the events in South Ossetia, the
implementation of a lucrative contract on the deliveries of S-300 [air
defense systems] to Iran looks like a logical step."

The U.S. and Israel were alarmed by media reports, which started
circulating as early as 2005, on the possible delivery of S-300
surface-to-air missiles to Iran, as these systems could greatly
improve Iranian defenses against any air strike on its strategically
important sites, including nuclear facilities.

The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1
(SA-20 Gargoyle), has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles)
and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high
altitudes, making the system an effective tool for warding off
possible air strikes.

The issue was again raised in December last year when Iranian Defense
Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Russia had agreed to deliver to
Iran an unspecified number of advanced S-300 air defense complexes
under a previously signed contract.

However, Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation
said the issue of the delivery of S-300 air defense missile systems to
Iran was not a subject of current or past negotiations.

Israeli defense sources, however, said in July that Iran was expected
to take delivery of Russian S-300 air defense systems by the end of
2008.

Pukhov said: "This may be true. While Russia and the West were on good
terms, the contract could have been 'frozen' for the time being. But
now may be the perfect time to move forward with the fulfillment of
the S-300 contract."

According to the Russian analyst, S-300 missiles and previously
delivered Tor-M1 missiles would help Iran build a strong network of
long- and medium-range 'defensive rings' to thwart any attempts to
destroy key nuclear facilities in the country.

Moscow supplied Iran with 29 Tor-M1 air defense missile systems in
late January under a $700-million contract signed in late 2005. Russia
has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators
and crew commanders.

"Anyone attempting to threaten Iran with aerial bombardment would have
to consider the possibility of strong and effective resistance," the
expert said.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi denied
on Monday reports that Tehran had bought S-300 air defense systems
from Russia.

"Our missile and technical capability completely depends on the
efforts of Iranian scientists," he said.