NEGATIVE/ROGUES/IRAN

RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TECHNOLOGY PARTNER TO IRAN

IRAN IS TOO IMPORTANT TO RUSSIA FOR IT TO STOP ARMS COOPERATION WITH IRAN WHICH THE USA SEEKS

BRENDA SHAFFER, Harvard University's Caspian Studies Program March 23, 2001, The Boston Globe SECTION: OP-ED; Pg. A27 HEADLINE: US NEEDS A PLAN TO HALT RUSSIA'S SALE OF NUCLEAR ARMS TO IRAN //VT2002acsln

Moscow will not jeopardize its relations with Iran for short-term material incentives or out of fear of US condemnation, nor is it likely that the United States will convince Russia to drop its overall strategic cooperation with Iran.

RUSSIA COOPERATES WITH IRAN BECAUSE IT NEEDS IRAN AS AN ISLAMIC ASIAN ALLY

BRENDA SHAFFER, Harvard University's Caspian Studies Program March 23, 2001, The Boston Globe SECTION: OP-ED; Pg. A27 HEADLINE: US NEEDS A PLAN TO HALT RUSSIA'S SALE OF NUCLEAR ARMS TO IRAN //VT2002acsln

Overall, official Iranian statements and the Iranian media have been quite mild in their criticism of Russia in the Chechen wars, considering the Muslim background of the Chechen rebels. While serving as chair of the Islamic Conference Organization, Tehran ensured that Chechnya stayed off the agenda of many Islamic forums. The Iranian criticisms of Russia were confined to the rhetorical level and the concrete cooperation between Moscow and Tehran was never interrupted by disagreements over Chechnya.

Iran's prevention of a Muslim backlash against Russia over the Chechen issue was rewarded by Moscow with public reaffirmation of its commitment to supply Tehran with its strongly sought-after civil nuclear reactors.