Iran: Russia Holds the Key

U.S. President Obama met Russian President Medvedev in Singapore on Sunday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to discuss Iranian nuclear weapons development. Obama stated, "We are now running out of time." Medvedev said he hopes Iran will send its enriched uranium to Russia to be further processed into fuel, but if not, "other options remain on the table."

Meanwhile, Iran is protesting the delay in receiving the Russian S-300 system, capable of destroying both aircraft and missiles. According to an article entitled "West fears Iran may reverse-engineer S-300 system" in today's Tehran Times:

"MP Mohammad Karami-Rad has stated that the West is afraid that Iran may reverse-engineer the S-300 missile system. . . . Karami-Rad, who is also a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that certain Western countries are trying to scupper contracts signed by Tehran and Moscow, which should have been implemented six months ago.

. . . .

The Iranian chairman of the Iran-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group stated that a delay in delivering the S-300 missiles would tarnish Russia’s image in Iran. . . . He stated that other countries will no longer trust Russia if it does not fulfill its commitments in regard to the contract for the S-300 system. Iran should not put all its eggs in one basket in its foreign policy by relying too much on Russia because Russia is not dependable, Sanaei added. Moscow should heed public opinion in Iran.

Political analyst and university professor Mahdi Motahharnia has said that Russia should not be indifferent to public opinion in Iran. . . . Motahharnia stated that public opinion in Iran has become sensitive to Russia’s policies on Iran, and more and more Iranians are beginning to believe that Russia is not honest in its dealings with Iran."

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=207921

Synopsis of this doublespeak:

1. Sell it to us or we'll manufacture it ourselves.
2. If you don't sell it to us, Iranians won't like you.
3. If you don't sell it to us, no one in the region will trust you any longer.

Analysis of this doublespeak:

1. Iran will reverse engineer the S-300? Maybe in another decade or two.
2. Iranians will start to hate Russia? There are already chants of "Death to Russia" at Friday prayers in Tehran.
3. No one in the Middle East will trust Russia in the future? No one in the Middle East trusts anyone.

In short, without the S-300 umbrella to protect their nuclear weapons development facilities, Iran is worried sick.