Russian Envoy Derides Iran Sanctions

Is it possible that even Russia is worried that there will be an attack on Iran? At least Russia is advising Ahmadinejad to do his best to lie low: keep the rules, satisfy the UN, etc. In this way he makes it harder for the Bush administration to make the case against Iran. Lets hope it works. It is going to have to work just 14 more months….

RLC

New York Times

Russian Envoy Derides Iran Sanctions

By Nazila Fathi

"The Russian foreign minister made a surprise visit to Iran today to meet with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and discuss Iran’s nuclear program"

"[Mr. Lavrov] was quoted as saying that he had urged Iran to continue working with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, and to 'do it as actively as possible, to clarify all questions that the international community has regarding Iran’s previous nuclear program.'"

"But he also stressed that further sanctions would not help the situation.For more than a year, a fragile coalition of world powers has been trying to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions through United Nations sanctions. But after two rounds of sanctions, Russia and China have balked at escalation to another round"

"Mr. Lavrov’s visit comes two weeks after the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, made a landmark trip to Iran"

"After Mr. Putin’s visit, Iran’s former chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the Russian president had delivered a proposal to Iran’s supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on state matters.Neither the Iranians nor the Russians would disclose any details, but Mr.Larijani said that it involved a new way to help resolve the nuclear standoff and that the Iranian side was studying it."