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Putin in Iran for landmark visit Putin in Iran for landmark visit
(30 minutes later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Iran for a historic visit, the first visit by a Kremlin leader since Stalin joined a summit there in World War II.Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Iran for a historic visit, the first visit by a Kremlin leader since Stalin joined a summit there in World War II.
As well as meeting Iran's leaders Mr Putin is attending a summit of heads of countries in the Caspian Sea area.As well as meeting Iran's leaders Mr Putin is attending a summit of heads of countries in the Caspian Sea area.
Iran's nuclear programme is set to top the agenda, with the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran saying Iran is seeking Russian help fending off new UN sanctions.Iran's nuclear programme is set to top the agenda, with the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran saying Iran is seeking Russian help fending off new UN sanctions.
The visit went ahead despite Kremlin warnings of an assassination threat.The visit went ahead despite Kremlin warnings of an assassination threat.
The alleged plot to kill the Russian president prompted Mr Putin's staff to cast doubt on the trip, only for the president to announce that he was not deterred.The alleged plot to kill the Russian president prompted Mr Putin's staff to cast doubt on the trip, only for the president to announce that he was not deterred.
The Iranian government played down the threat.The Iranian government played down the threat.
CASPIAN SEA Largest enclosed body of water on Earth by areaVariously classified as a lake or seaBordered by Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and TurkmenistanEnergy rich, with evidence of large oil and gas reservesHome to caviar-producing sturgeon
As well as meeting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr Putin will hold talks with Iran's powerful spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.As well as meeting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr Putin will hold talks with Iran's powerful spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Russians are helping with Bushehr nuclear power stationBut his first order of business was attending a summit of Caspian Sea states which has brought together Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. But his first order of business was attending a summit of Caspian Sea states which has brought together Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Addressing the summit opening, Mr Ahmadinejad warned against outside states meddling in the region's affairs.Addressing the summit opening, Mr Ahmadinejad warned against outside states meddling in the region's affairs.
"All Caspian nations agree on the main issue - that all aspects related to this sea must be settled exclusively by littoral nations," the Associated Press quoted him as saying."All Caspian nations agree on the main issue - that all aspects related to this sea must be settled exclusively by littoral nations," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.
"The Caspian Sea is an inland sea and it only belongs to the Caspian states, therefore only they are entitled to have their ships and military forces here." The Russians are helping with Bushehr nuclear power station"The Caspian Sea is an inland sea and it only belongs to the Caspian states, therefore only they are entitled to have their ships and military forces here."
Those sentiments were echoed by Mr Putin who, according to AFP news agency, said the final summit statement would include a section on "the impossibility of providing the territory of one state for an act of aggression against another state".Those sentiments were echoed by Mr Putin who, according to AFP news agency, said the final summit statement would include a section on "the impossibility of providing the territory of one state for an act of aggression against another state".
The leaders are expected to make an announcement on a convention determining a new legal status for the resource-rich body of water, according to the Russian foreign ministry.The leaders are expected to make an announcement on a convention determining a new legal status for the resource-rich body of water, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
Building reactorBuilding reactor
As well as wanting to secure diplomatic help in blocking UN sanctions over its refusal to end its controversial nuclear programme, Iran also wants to ensure continued Russian technical assistance.As well as wanting to secure diplomatic help in blocking UN sanctions over its refusal to end its controversial nuclear programme, Iran also wants to ensure continued Russian technical assistance.
If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home Vladimir Putin Iran and Russia uneasy allies 'Plot' overshadows Berlin tripIf I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home Vladimir Putin Iran and Russia uneasy allies 'Plot' overshadows Berlin trip
The government hopes Mr Putin will confirm that Moscow will complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor being built by Russian engineers.The government hopes Mr Putin will confirm that Moscow will complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor being built by Russian engineers.
The programme has been dogged by delays, with Moscow saying Tehran is behind with its payments and Iran accusing Russia of dragging its feet for political reasons, our correspondent says.The programme has been dogged by delays, with Moscow saying Tehran is behind with its payments and Iran accusing Russia of dragging its feet for political reasons, our correspondent says.
It is not clear quite how much support Mr Putin is prepared to give Iran in its showdown with the West.It is not clear quite how much support Mr Putin is prepared to give Iran in its showdown with the West.
Washington and other Western countries are pressing for a new round of UN sanctions because of Iran's refusal to end uranium enrichment.Washington and other Western countries are pressing for a new round of UN sanctions because of Iran's refusal to end uranium enrichment.
Moscow has until now been blocking those new sanctions, saying it wants to enable the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to work with Iran on clearing up outstanding issues.Moscow has until now been blocking those new sanctions, saying it wants to enable the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to work with Iran on clearing up outstanding issues.
Mr Putin will certainly be calling for more flexibility from the Iranian government over the nuclear issue and no-one should forget the deep legacy of suspicion that exists between Russia and Iran, our correspondent says.Mr Putin will certainly be calling for more flexibility from the Iranian government over the nuclear issue and no-one should forget the deep legacy of suspicion that exists between Russia and Iran, our correspondent says.
Suicide bomb threatSuicide bomb threat
Mr Putin has called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, urging the international community to show patience.Mr Putin has called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, urging the international community to show patience.
In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran"It is futile to frighten Iran and its people - they are not scared," Mr Putin said before the visit.In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran"It is futile to frighten Iran and its people - they are not scared," Mr Putin said before the visit.
Mr Putin travelled to Tehran from Germany where he met Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks somewhat overshadowed by the alleged assassination plot.Mr Putin travelled to Tehran from Germany where he met Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks somewhat overshadowed by the alleged assassination plot.
Russian media had quoted unnamed security sources as saying suicide bombers and kidnappers were plotting to kill Mr Putin in Tehran.Russian media had quoted unnamed security sources as saying suicide bombers and kidnappers were plotting to kill Mr Putin in Tehran.
Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that such reports were "very serious".Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that such reports were "very serious".
But the Russian president dismissed the claims, telling reporters: "Of course I am going to Iran.But the Russian president dismissed the claims, telling reporters: "Of course I am going to Iran.
"If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home.""If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home."