Comments on: Why Putin Suspended Transfers of Nuclear Materials to Iran

By: Kevin H

Kevin H — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:31:45 +0000

PS, if I were paying for a multi-million dollar Nuclear Plant, I would get an itemized receipt! If Iran really had payed Russia, there would be some tangible proof of it. However, all deals hit bumps, and it certainly is possible that Putin intentionally exaggerated a bump into a deal breaker.

By: Kevin H

Kevin H — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:28:32 +0000

I think the idea that Iran is “flush with petrodollars” is unsubstantiated. They are in the middle of a disastrous domestic oil subsidy policy, and there is some decent evidence that US sanctions against both Iran and NK are in fact working to suppress the buying power of those nations. I wouldn’t rule out taking Putin at face value…. this time.

Then there is the super conspiracy take on this, that Putin is only SAYING that he is stopping shipments to try and throw UN and US off the track.

By: Michael van der Galien

Michael van der Galien — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:41:05 +0000

Doma and Vittal: I agree.

By: Vittal

Vittal — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:33:47 +0000

True â€“ The last thing he wants is a nuclear armed Chechnya rebels! Already you see so many Chechnya martyrs featured in Al-Sunar propaganda videos! His calculated moves are nothing but an attempt to re-establish Russia as an important power player in the world politics.

By: domajot

domajot — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:09:39 +0000

This analysis makes a whole lot of sense, in thet it points out Russia’s aim to reclaim an important role in world politics.

It also underlines Russia’s wariness about a nuclear Iran, as it has its own terrorist worries.