Russian foreign minister brushes off Iranian criticism, expresses frustration with Tehran

Russian foreign minister dismisses Iran criticism

MOSCOW — Russia’s foreign minister on Thursday brushed off Iran’s recent criticism as an emotional outburst and expressed frustration with Tehran in the standoff over its nuclear program.

The comments indicated growing dismay with Iran in Russia, whose support had somewhat buffered Tehran against calls in the West for tougher action.

After long resistance, Russia is now supporting possible new sanctions against Iran over concern that its is developing nuclear weapons. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took Russia to task for this on Wednesday, saying it was difficult to gauge whether the Kremlin was a friend or an enemy.

“This statement is being interpreted as emotional,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference.

He lamented that, despite Russia’s years of efforts to resolve the dispute, “the response from the Iranian side has been unsatisfactory.”

Russia and Iran have cultivated close relations for years, including Russia’s construction of the Bushehr nuclear plant that many critics say is connected to Iran’s efforts to build nuclear weapons. Russia also signed a contract in 2007 to sell S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran, which would substantially increase Iran’s defense capacities, though none have been delivered.

Despite the ties, Russia has been able to exert little visible leverage on Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and its frustration is clearly growing.

Lavrov appeared to hint that Moscow is concerned that Iran’s lack of cooperation could be undermining Russia’s image as a major force in the international community.

“All the decisions that we make on all questions of external policy are based on national interests and on our responsibility as a great state which is involved in an array of international efforts to resolve difficult situations. And Iran is one of these,” he said.

Aside from Ahmadinejad’s criticism, Iran in turn has shown other signs this week of growing irritation with Moscow. The Iranian ambassador this week said pointedly that Iran expects Russia to fulfill the S-300 contract.

Lavrov has suggested the delay in delivery is due to concerns about aggravating regional tensions. Israel vehemently opposes delivery of the missiles.

Despite the sparring between Tehran and Moscow, Lavrov said Russia supports a proposed nuclear fuel swap deal that advocates say could break the standoff, but which the United States has dismissed as a ploy.

The swap offer was negotiated last week by Brazil and Turkey, which are opposed to new U.N. sanctions on Iran. It would commit Iran to shipping 1,200 kilograms of low-enriched uranium for storage abroad — in this case to Turkey. In exchange, Iran would get fuel rods made from 20-percent enriched uranium; that level of enrichment is high enough for use in research reactors but too low for nuclear weapons.

“Very much will depend on how the Iranian side will approach its obligations. If it observes them strictly, then Russia will actively support the realization of the plan proposed by Brazil and Turkey,” Lavrov said. “This plan serves the interests of peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear program.”

Ahmadinejad, in the same speech in which he criticized Russia, warned the United States that it will miss a historic opportunity for cooperation if it turns down the nuclear fuel swap deal.