The headline of this story here over at Haartetz suggests that the Russians are hinting that they will NOT sell the advanced S-300 missile system to Iran but I'm not so sure. Let's take a good look at what the Russian spokesman actually said and you can decide:
So, my take on those statements is this: this guy ended up saying nothing. Maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just too skeptical, but in the first statement he claims that Russia doesn't want to sell the armaments in a volatile region of the world and so that looks encouraging that they wouldn't sell to Iran. But...and I think a big but....in the very next sentence he mentions preserving a balance of power in a region. So I ask you, if you wanted to look at this from a very suspicious point of view, couldn't the Russians make the point that Israel has nuclear weapons and a capability of attacking Israel and thus, in order to preserve a balance of power in the region, Iran should have the S-300 system?
I simply don't trust the Russians. So much of what they are doing nowadays is based upon a horrible economic situation in that country - sure, they are reaping some big rewards from their oil and natural gas resources but at the same time, they are hurting in so many other sectors. I don't trust the Russians and certainly don't trust the Iranians, so I'm not convinced that this weapons system sale isn't still on the agenda.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko was asked by reporters Thursday whether Russia had promised Israel it would not sell weapons such as S-300s.
"We have declared more than once at the very highest political level that we do not intend to supply those types of armaments to countries located in regions that are, to put it mildly, uneasy," he said. "This is not in the interests of our country's policy or the interests of preserving stability in one region or another of the world."
He said Russia would make decisions on selling weapons systems based on both "preserving the balance of power in the given region, and taking into account the need to provide stability and security in the region."
So, my take on those statements is this: this guy ended up saying nothing. Maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just too skeptical, but in the first statement he claims that Russia doesn't want to sell the armaments in a volatile region of the world and so that looks encouraging that they wouldn't sell to Iran. But...and I think a big but....in the very next sentence he mentions preserving a balance of power in a region. So I ask you, if you wanted to look at this from a very suspicious point of view, couldn't the Russians make the point that Israel has nuclear weapons and a capability of attacking Israel and thus, in order to preserve a balance of power in the region, Iran should have the S-300 system?
I simply don't trust the Russians. So much of what they are doing nowadays is based upon a horrible economic situation in that country - sure, they are reaping some big rewards from their oil and natural gas resources but at the same time, they are hurting in so many other sectors. I don't trust the Russians and certainly don't trust the Iranians, so I'm not convinced that this weapons system sale isn't still on the agenda.
Russia hints it won't sell advanced missiles to Iran
A Russian Foreign Ministry official has suggested Moscow will not sell advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Observers have said sophisticated S-300 missile systems could be used by Iran to defend military targets like the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant. That would make any military strike more difficult, and Israel, the United States and other nations have pressured Russia not to sell such weapons to Iran, Syria or other nations that have threatened Israel.
Outgoing prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he discussed Russian weapons sales during a visit to Moscow this week. Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko was asked by reporters Thursday whether Russia had promised Israel it would not sell weapons such as S-300s. "We have declared more than once at the very highest political level that we do not intend to supply those types of armaments to countries located in regions that are, to put it mildly, uneasy," he said. "This is not in the interests of our country's policy or the interests of preserving stability in one region or another of the world." He said Russia would make decisions on selling weapons systems based on both "preserving the balance of power in the given region, and taking into account the need to provide stability and security in the region." Iran's president has vowed that Israel should be wiped off the map - and Israel fears that the nuclear program Iran says is to produce power is actually meant to manufacture weapons.
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