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Iran Press: Politicians Comment on Russia's Role in Nuclear Talks

Posted on: Saturday, 3 December 2005, 12:00 CST

Text of report entitled "Naraqi: Russia's entry into nuclear talks not to Iran's advantage" by Iranian newspaper Aftab-e Yazd website on 3 December

Political affairs expert Ehsan Naraqi says that "as the nuclear issue becomes more critical, Iran will not only face America but the entire world, and the creation of this consensus is very dangerous, while the entry of Russia into the nuclear dossier can complete this consensus." He told Mehr on the consequences of Russian entry into talks between Iran and the West: "Russia's entry into the nuclear negotiations is because the International Atomic Energy Agency does not trust Iran yet, and to create this trust, the number of negotiating countries constantly increases, which itself has different consequences. The adviser to the head of UNESCO said the confidence-building method of the previous negotiating team "was very effective, and the new team, with the vicissitudes created along the path to confidence-building has made an important mistake. As a person with 50 years' experience in international bodies, I warn that scandals, upheavals and slogans will have no results for Iran, and only cause misunderstanding and mistrust toward Iran."

Russian proposal in line with European plan

Aminzadeh, a member of the national security and foreign policy committee of parliament has stressed the need to talk with Europe and Russia in separate sessions. Elham Aminzadeh said the Russian proposal "was in line with the three European countries' proposal in August, as they did not believe Iran should have the fuel and enrichment cycle." He said it has taken Russia three years to send fuel to Bushehr, adding: "After completing the forecast nuclear plants, we cannot sit and wait for fuel to be sent, so those with nuclear fuel give it to us and generate our electricity plants whenever they want." The Tehran representative said: "The ability to make fuel is a capability we have found, and we cannot loose it for illegal and illusory excuses, and then expect to win it back gradually by making new concessions to the West and Russia every day." He said the recent IAEA Governing Board session was predictable, adding that some see the non-issuance of a resolution as a trick, others as a total success. "While one should know that Iran's firm stance and confidence building had a role in preventing the governing board resolution, we should not forget that this was a trick," he said. Some, he said, "believe this is a Western trick to win an opportunity to bring Russia round, and it seems this process is taking place."

He urged the activation of diplomacy and continuation of strong consultations with other countries to resolve the nuclear issue. "We have to pursue negotiations separately for this, especially regarding Russia and Europe," he said.

Russian injustice to Iran has been no less than Europe's

Falahtpisheh, a member of the parliamentary national security and foreign policy committee said that looking at history, "we see that the Russians have done Iran no less injustice than the Europeans, and Russia's entry alongside the West in the negotiations with Iran can be very dangerous in creating discrimination in the right to access nuclear fuel." Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a representative for West Eslamabad said the aim of the proposal for European states is to bring Russia round to their position, while Russia's aim in proposing the transfer of part of Iran's fuel cycle to its territory is to play a role in the realm of international affairs. "The Russians, Europe and America do not on the whole differ over Iran's nuclear fuel cycle," he said. The university lecturer said the nuclear club was trying to create a new club of countries with nuclear fuel and deprive other countries of access to the fuel cycle. "The Russians are also trying for this, which is why they want Iran not to fully access the fuel cycle." He said that the sanctions imposed in past years on the country make it necessary to access the fuel cycle. "The subject of the Bushehr plant, its incompletion, and the failure to send Iran fuel on time, are clear examples of the way Western and Eastern countries have broken their nuclear pledges with Iran," he said.

The Russians want both the East and the West

An academic has said the consequences of Russian entry into the negotiations must "be carefully examined by specialist bodies, and Russia's strategy toward Iran reviewed." Sadeq Zibakalam said in response to the impact of this entry on Iran's national interests: "The Russian in fact want to have both Iran and the West with them. The Russian strategy is to find a mid-way solution, whose balance they would determine of course. And if they can make Iran and the West accept their proposed solution to the Iranian nuclear problem and uranium enrichment, the Russians will be the ultimate winners of the Iranian nuclear dossier. The consequences of Russian entry into the nuclear dossier must be carefully examined by specialist bodies, and Russia's strategy toward Iran reviewed."

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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