Russia's patience wearing thin with Iran

Russia's patience wearing thin with Iran

Iran's isolation over its nuclear ambitions has deepened as Russia, its closest big power ally, announced indefinite delays to a joint nuclear power project and accused Tehran of abusing its goodwill.

Russia has defied Western concerns to supply arms to Iran, aided the Iranians in building the Bushehr nuclear power station and helped to water down sanctions against Tehran in the UN.

But it is now signalling its patience with Iran's leadership is wearing thin.


Atomstroiexport, the state-owned contractor helping build the Bushehr plant, said the first fuel deliveries would not go ahead as planned this month and the scheduled September launch date would not now be met either.

The contractor said the delays were caused by a payment row, but observers in Moscow said the project was, in effect, being mothballed because of political sensitivities.

The US, which suspects Iran of accumulating nuclear knowhow to build a bomb, has for years urged Moscow to halt the project, but the Kremlin refused. Iran denies it is seeking a nuclear weapon.

"The timeframe has been moved and so the launch cannot happen in September - we simply cannot do it. If we can't launch the station in September then we cannot deliver the fuel according to the old timetable either," said Irina Yesipova, a spokeswoman for Atomstroiexport.

That announcement came as Russian news agencies quoted what they called an informed source in Moscow accusing Tehran of exploiting Russia's diplomatic support while making no concessions in return.

"Unfortunately, the Iranians are abusing our constructive relations and have done nothing to convince our colleagues of the consistency of Tehran's policies," the source was quoted as saying.

There was no indication of the source's identity, but the source's remarks were reported by all three of Russia's main news agencies. Senior officials often use them as a back-channel for sending messages to foreign governments.

"We are suffering losses in terms of foreign policy and our image while they stand their ground," the source was quoted as saying.

"If they do not respond to the questions of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), let them answer for themselves."

"They cannot play on our methodical good relations eternally and they need to understand that."

Russia holds the key to future UN sanctions on Iran because it holds a veto in the security council and has used its influence to soften previous measures.

The five permanent members of the council - the US, France, Britain, China and Russia - plus Germany, are discussing imposing new sanctions on Iran.

The US voiced scepticism today about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's wish to go before the council to defend Iran's civilian nuclear plans.

"I'm not sure what purpose that would serve," said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.

"The issue here is not explaining Iran's presumed right to civilian nuclear power, the issue here is getting at international community concerns about Iran's nuclear programs and its pursuit of nuclear weapons," Casey told reporters.


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