[Washington Institute for Near East Policy] Mark N. Katz - Russia does not want Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. The expectation that this will lead to joint Russian-American cooperation, however, is seriously mistaken. Moscow does not want Iran to either voluntarily renounce or be forcefully prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons if this results in a diminution of Russia's value to Iran as a protector or partner. Russian firms profit from selling arms and nuclear technology to Iran, and Russian petroleum firms are actively seeking to invest in the Iranian oil and gas sectors. Moscow is also deeply appreciative that Tehran has not supported Chechen or other Muslim rebels in Russia, or challenged Moscow's influence in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Kremlin sees the Obama administration as asking Russia to risk harming its Iranian ties while Washington is openly attempting to improve Iranian-American relations. Moscow has long feared that if U.S.-Iranian ties improve, Russia's importance to Iran will diminish. The degree of effort necessary to secure Russia's limited help is not worth Washington's time or resources. The writer is a professor of government and politics at George Mason University.
2009-05-14 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive