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Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 61, October - November 2001

News Review

Russia Remains Committed to Iran Cooperation

The Russian government is defending its policy of selling military equipment and nuclear reactors to Iran, despite vehemently expressed US concerns. On November 7, President Putin told ABC television: "We have not ever sold anything to Iran...that would help Iran develop missiles or weapons of mass destruction."

In Moscow on October 2, Russia and Iran signed a new military cooperation agreement reportedly involving $300 million of arms sales to Tehran. Iran's Defence Minister, Ali Shamkhani, told reporters (October 2): "Today our cooperation is becoming more urgent. The [global] situation prompts that [conclusion]..." A Russian Foreign Ministry statement on October 5 insisted that "military-technological cooperation between Russia and Iran is strictly consistent with current international legal norms and aims at the consolidation of regional security and international stability."

On November 16, a nuclear reactor shell was shipped from St. Petersburg to the Bushehr facility in Iran, scheduled to start operation by the end of 2003. State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher expressed disappointment, noting: "We believe that Iran uses Bushehr as a cover for obtaining sensitive technology to advance their nuclear weapons programme... We think Iran's clandestine efforts to acquire weapons-grade material poses a threat."

Reports: Russian, Iran defense ministers meet, Associated Press, October 2; Russia and Iran sign arms deal, nuclear reactors are on the way, New York Times, October 3; Russian Minister of Foreign affairs Igor Ivanov meets with Ali Shamkhani, Iranian Minister of Defence, Russian Foreign Ministry Statement, Document 1785-05-10-2001, October 5; Putin disputes Iran weapons report, Associated Press, November 7; Russia ships nuclear reactor shell to Iran, Reuters, November 16; Russia ships reactor body to Iran, Associated Press, November 16.

© 2001 The Acronym Institute.