Pro-Kremlin pundit rules out Russian-US 'trade-off' over Iran, ABM plans
Interfax
October 12, 2009
Moscow will not take a tougher stance against Iran in exchange for Washington's decision not to deploy antimissile defence elements in Poland and the Czech Republic, political expert Vyacheslav Nikonov, the president of the Politika foundation, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency on 12 October. He was commenting on possible results of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Moscow.
"There will be no trade-off here. I rule out that Russia may support sanctions that could be interpreted as a permission to use force against Iran," Nikonov said. He was also quoted as saying that while Tehran was an "obvious opponent" for Washington, Iran was Russia's ally on some issues such as the fight against Taleban and Wahhabism and ensuring stability in the Caspian region.
