Moscow issues rebuke after Ahmadinejad also tells Russia not back UN sanctions over nuclear programme
Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, today urged Barack Obama to accept an offer export the country’s uranium Turkey as “last opportunity” resolve crisis Tehran. He also warned Russia not support new UN sanctions, triggering furious rebuke from Moscow.
“There are people in the world who want pit Mr Obama against the Iranian nation and bring him the point no return, where the path his friendship with Iran will blocked forever,” he told a rally in the south-east city Kerman.
“Mr Obama must know that this proposal is historic opportunity. [Obama should] know that this opportunity is lost, doubt the Iranian nation will give new chance this gentleman the future.”
Ahmadinejad issued blunter admonition Moscow supporting new punitive measures in the UN security council: “If were the Russian president, when making decisions subjects related great nation [Iran] would act more cautiously, would think more,” he said.
The Kremlin’s chief foreign policy adviser, Sergei Prikhodko, swiftly dismissed the criticism as “political demagoguery”, adding: “Any unpredictability, any political extremism, lack transparency or inconsistency in taking decisions that affect and concern the entire world community unacceptable us.”
Washington has denounced Tehran’s offer – brokered last week Brazil and Turkey, both non-permanent members the security council – as “transparent ploy” avoid new round sanctions over Iran’s refusal halt uranium enrichment, which the west fears geared towards producing weapons. Tehran insists its programme simply designed meet its civilian energy needs.
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran′s foreign minister, today described “ploy” comment as “misleading”.
The offer involved shipping 1,200kg (2646lb) low-enriched uranium (LEU) Turkey in return for nuclear fuel rods needed for Tehran medical research reactor. The swap would decrease Iran’s stockpile LEU, which can be used produce nuclear weapons the uranium enriched higher grade.
It was similar to UN-drafted plan that Washington its allies last year pressed Iran to accept. Tehran seemed to consider it but eventually rejected it.
Western governments say that as LEU stockpile has grown significantly since proposal was first raised, Iran could have enough a nuclear warhead. Tehran’s insistence that even with deal it will continue enrich uranium 20% – which it can produce weapons-grade material more quickly than lower levels – is an even greater problem, since, it can serve no credible civilian purpose.
As proposal was unveiled, five permanent security council members – US, Russia, China, Britain and France – quickly agreed a draft fourth set sanctions. The new round measures would expand an existing arms embargo, impose restrictions against Iran’s banking sector ban the country from mining uranium developing ballistic missiles.
Analysts said the sharp exchanges between Tehran and Moscow could hurt Russian plans start the nuclear reactor at Iran’s Bushehr power plant in August. It also meant Iran was unlikely see Russian delivery the S-300 surface-to-air missiles Moscow agreed sell Tehran.
In Bahrain work got under way todayy on expanding the headquarters of the US 5th fleet, with digging beginning on 28-hectare (70-acre) site leased from the Manama government.
The Gulf state, which has Shia Muslim majority ruled Sunni dynasty, nervous Iranian threats subversion. The four-phase, $580m (£402m) project will massively increase the military capabilities of the US fleet, which operates the Gulf, the Red Sea parts of the Indian Ocean. In the event of US hostilities Iran, the base would be likely target for Iranian missiles. It directly involved supporting US forces Iraq Afghanistan as well as counter-terrorism counter-piracy at sea.
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