Original source URL: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4158490.html Sept. 1, 2006, 10:04PM Russia hints it won't back sanctions for defiant Iran Moscow stymies bid by the U.S. to punish Tehran for missing deadline on nuclear work By STEVEN LEE MYERS New York Times MOSCOW ‹ Russia on Friday cast new doubt on the prospects for the Bush administration's efforts to punish Iran for refusing to suspend its nuclear program, even as European leaders expressed wariness at moving quickly to impose sanctions. ADVERTISEMENT In Moscow, officials expressed regret that an Aug. 31 deadline had passed without an agreement by Iran to halt efforts to enrich uranium that could be used for building nuclear weapons, as U.S. and European officials fear Iran intends. At the same time, Russian officials made it clear that they do not support retaliatory sanctions or other steps to isolate Iran's leadership. That was a view that seemed to be widely shared across Europe. Despite weeks of diplomacy among the U.N. Security Council's permanent members ‹ the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia ‹ the resolute deadline set by the Security Council for Iran to halt its nuclear work seemed fairly irresolute once it passed. Russia's defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, said the issue of sanctions was "not acute," and added that diplomats from the five permanent members and Germany would meet to discuss further steps. Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Russia favored continued negotiations and not punitive measures. Even though Russia previously joined the Security Council in setting the deadline for Iran to comply, Lavrov left in doubt whether Russia would ever agree to any penalties. In Iran, officials reiterated that the country is only pursuing a peaceful, civilian nuclear program. -- -------------------------------------------------------- Escaping the Matrix website http://escapingthematrix.org/ cyberjournal website http://cyberjournal.org subscribe cyberjournal list mailto:•••@••.••• Posting archives http://cyberjournal.org/show_archives/ Blogs: cyberjournal forum http://cyberjournal-rkm.blogspot.com/ Achieving real democracy http://harmonization.blogspot.com/ for readers of ETM http://matrixreaders.blogspot.com/ Community Empowerment http://empowermentinitiatives.blogspot.com/ Blogger made easy http://quaylargo.com/help/ezblogger.html
