WORLD / Middle East

Russia nixes sanctions against Iran

(AP)
Updated: 2006-08-25 21:26

But while Washington, backed by closest ally Britain, has said the six
powers will move quickly to adopt sanctions if Iran disregards the
deadline, Germany and France have been less conclusive in public and
Russia and China have been unwilling.

"For the moment, it (the Iranian response) is not satisfactory," French
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio, but added it
was important to avoid escalating conflict with Iran and the Muslim world.

"The worst thing would be to escalate into a confrontation (between the
West and) Iran on the one hand, and the Muslim world with Iran...," he
said.

"I'm starting from the principle we should have a dialogue with the
Iranians, that we must hold out our hands to them."

CONFLICTS SEEN STRENGTHENING IRAN

US and British forces that overthrew Iraq's Saddam Hussein in 2003 are
now mired in an Islamist insurgency while

Israel and Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrillas recently waged an inconclusive
war. Both conflicts are widely seen to have strengthened Iran.

Bloodshed between Israel and Palestinians under an Islamist Hamas
government also festers on without a solution in sight.

Some analysts believe that widespread anger in the Arab and Muslim worlds
over Washington's perceived slowness to push Israel into a ceasefire with
Hizbollah could erode support in the 15-member Security Council for a
showdown with Iran.

"The strongest motivation to give talks a chance seems to be the
international community's lack of appetite for a fourth conflict in the
Middle East," said Trita Parsi, a U.S.-based Iranian author and
commentator.

Russia, which is building Iran's first nuclear power plant, has
traditionally argued that sanctions would not work.

Russia and China, also long averse to sanctions as a policy tool, have
major energy and investment stakes with Iran and could veto sanctions in
the Security Council.

Mark Fitzpatrick at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
said Russia's stance seemed to contradict the intention of the Council
resolution but most diplomatic players remained keen to find a palatable
alternative to sanctions.

"I'm sure there will be high-level talks on whether there is some formula
regarding sequencing of suspension" based on Iran's hint it could shelve
enrichment as the upshot of talks to carry out the incentives, he said.

"The question is whether there is a basis to fudge the sequencing -- that
is, Iran commits to suspension after a very short time period of
negotiations. I don't know if that would be enough for (the West)."

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