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Russia Quickly Maneuvers to Capitalize on Iran Nuclear Deal Russia Quickly Maneuvers to Capitalize on Iran Nuclear Deal
(about 3 hours later)
MOSCOW — Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, lost no time in talking about the accord on Iran’s nuclear program. He was on television minutes after the deal was clinched, and even before the formal news conference had begun, announcing the landmark agreement to the audience back home and emphasizing the many potential benefits, strategic and economic, that it holds for Russia.MOSCOW — Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, lost no time in talking about the accord on Iran’s nuclear program. He was on television minutes after the deal was clinched, and even before the formal news conference had begun, announcing the landmark agreement to the audience back home and emphasizing the many potential benefits, strategic and economic, that it holds for Russia.
The deal reopens the door for lucrative contracts to expand Iran’s civilian nuclear energy program, which Russia has been looking forward to for years. And it may neutralize a major reason the United States has offered for developing a missile defense system in Europe, a project that President Vladimir V. Putin and other Kremlin officials have said was a threat to Russian security.The deal reopens the door for lucrative contracts to expand Iran’s civilian nuclear energy program, which Russia has been looking forward to for years. And it may neutralize a major reason the United States has offered for developing a missile defense system in Europe, a project that President Vladimir V. Putin and other Kremlin officials have said was a threat to Russian security.
“We all probably remember how in April 2009, giving a speech in Prague, the U.S. president, Barack Obama, said that if Iran’s nuclear program is successfully regulated, then the aim of the European segment of the missile defense will be dropped,” Mr. Lavrov said straight into the cameras of state-controlled Russian television. “This is why today we drew the attention of our American colleagues to this fact. We will expect a reaction.”“We all probably remember how in April 2009, giving a speech in Prague, the U.S. president, Barack Obama, said that if Iran’s nuclear program is successfully regulated, then the aim of the European segment of the missile defense will be dropped,” Mr. Lavrov said straight into the cameras of state-controlled Russian television. “This is why today we drew the attention of our American colleagues to this fact. We will expect a reaction.”
Of course, Iran’s nuclear program will not be declared “successfully regulated” anytime soon — certainly not by President Obama or by the many skeptics in Congress who will review and may vote on the nuclear accord.Of course, Iran’s nuclear program will not be declared “successfully regulated” anytime soon — certainly not by President Obama or by the many skeptics in Congress who will review and may vote on the nuclear accord.
The White House is also likely to disagree with Mr. Lavrov’s characterization of Mr. Obama’s remarks in Prague.The White House is also likely to disagree with Mr. Lavrov’s characterization of Mr. Obama’s remarks in Prague.
In his speech then, Mr. Obama said: “As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven. If the Iranian threat is eliminated, we will have a stronger basis for security, and the driving force for missile defense construction in Europe will be removed.”In his speech then, Mr. Obama said: “As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven. If the Iranian threat is eliminated, we will have a stronger basis for security, and the driving force for missile defense construction in Europe will be removed.”
Still, Mr. Lavrov’s lightning effort to capitalize on the deal underscored just how much Russia has invested in Iran’s returning to normal diplomatic relations.Still, Mr. Lavrov’s lightning effort to capitalize on the deal underscored just how much Russia has invested in Iran’s returning to normal diplomatic relations.
Russia possesses some of the world’s foremost expertise in atomic energy, and has helped build and operate atomic reactors in Iran for many years. Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy company, helped build and expand the Bushehr nuclear plant and already has contracts to build two additional reactors there. Mr. Putin himself issued a statement on Tuesday welcoming the deal, underlining Russia’s role and noting that his government would move ahead with its nuclear power agreements and with strengthening bilateral ties.
He described the accord as “important for the implementation of large-scale plans of peaceful nuclear cooperation between Russia and Iran that got support in the documents approved today.”
Russia possesses some of the world’s foremost expertise in atomic energy, and has helped build and operate atomic reactors in Iran for many years. Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy company, helped build and expand the Bushehr nuclear plant and already has contracts to build two more reactors there.
Mr. Lavrov said Russia and Iran have “very ambitious plans for the development of Iranian nuclear power.” He also said Russia expected to have a major role in putting the accord with Iran into effect, including two areas specified in the agreement: the shipment of low-enriched uranium from Iran to Russia in exchange for supplies of natural uranium, and the modification of the Fordo enrichment processing plant to produce stable isotopes for medical and industrial purposes instead of bomb fuel.Mr. Lavrov said Russia and Iran have “very ambitious plans for the development of Iranian nuclear power.” He also said Russia expected to have a major role in putting the accord with Iran into effect, including two areas specified in the agreement: the shipment of low-enriched uranium from Iran to Russia in exchange for supplies of natural uranium, and the modification of the Fordo enrichment processing plant to produce stable isotopes for medical and industrial purposes instead of bomb fuel.
Beyond the energy sector, Russia expects to make substantial sales of conventional weapons to Iran. In the late stages of negotiations, Mr. Lavrov made a hard, dramatic push for an immediate and complete lifting of an international arms embargo against Iran, apparently helping set the stage for a deal.Beyond the energy sector, Russia expects to make substantial sales of conventional weapons to Iran. In the late stages of negotiations, Mr. Lavrov made a hard, dramatic push for an immediate and complete lifting of an international arms embargo against Iran, apparently helping set the stage for a deal.
In the end, a compromise was reached that will continue the embargo for five to eight years. Still, Mr. Lavrov suggested that Russia stood to benefit even sooner from renewed arms deals with Tehran because exceptions would be allowed under new notification and United Nations approval procedures.In the end, a compromise was reached that will continue the embargo for five to eight years. Still, Mr. Lavrov suggested that Russia stood to benefit even sooner from renewed arms deals with Tehran because exceptions would be allowed under new notification and United Nations approval procedures.
Mr. Putin said this year that Russia intended to deliver to Iran some S-300 surface-to-air missile systems that Iran ordered in 2007, three years before the United Nations imposed the embargo. He said that the missiles were not covered by the ban because they were defensive in nature, and that because the contract predated the embargo, Russia’s suspension of it in 2010 was voluntary and could be lifted legally at any time.Mr. Putin said this year that Russia intended to deliver to Iran some S-300 surface-to-air missile systems that Iran ordered in 2007, three years before the United Nations imposed the embargo. He said that the missiles were not covered by the ban because they were defensive in nature, and that because the contract predated the embargo, Russia’s suspension of it in 2010 was voluntary and could be lifted legally at any time.
Russian officials have made great efforts throughout the nuclear talks to portray themselves as central to the decision-making. Not only did Mr. Lavrov make sure he was the first of the senior officials in Vienna to go on television, his ministry was also first to post the full text of the Iran accord on its website.Russian officials have made great efforts throughout the nuclear talks to portray themselves as central to the decision-making. Not only did Mr. Lavrov make sure he was the first of the senior officials in Vienna to go on television, his ministry was also first to post the full text of the Iran accord on its website.
In his televised remarks to Russian reporters in Vienna, Mr. Lavrov said Russia deserved credit for reviving the long-stalled negotiations with Iran three years ago.In his televised remarks to Russian reporters in Vienna, Mr. Lavrov said Russia deserved credit for reviving the long-stalled negotiations with Iran three years ago.
“We managed to bring the negotiations from a dead end, because it was Russian experts who proposed the step-by-step concept of reciprocity, in which every step of Iran to meet the demands of the international community would be accompanied by countersteps from the six and the United Nations to ease the pressure of sanctions.” The “six” referred to the powers that negotiated with Iran: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.“We managed to bring the negotiations from a dead end, because it was Russian experts who proposed the step-by-step concept of reciprocity, in which every step of Iran to meet the demands of the international community would be accompanied by countersteps from the six and the United Nations to ease the pressure of sanctions.” The “six” referred to the powers that negotiated with Iran: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
Mr. Obama, in an interview Tuesday with Thomas L. Friedman, an op-ed columnist with The New York Times, praised Mr. Putin and Russia for helping to clinch the deal, even amid the tensions over Russia’s policies in Ukraine.Mr. Obama, in an interview Tuesday with Thomas L. Friedman, an op-ed columnist with The New York Times, praised Mr. Putin and Russia for helping to clinch the deal, even amid the tensions over Russia’s policies in Ukraine.
“Russia was a help on this,” Mr. Obama said. “I’ll be honest with you. I was not sure given the strong differences we are having with Russia right now around Ukraine, whether this would sustain itself. Putin and the Russian government compartmentalized on this in a way that surprised me, and we would have not achieved this agreement had it not been for Russia’s willingness to stick with us and the other P5-plus members in insisting on a strong deal.”“Russia was a help on this,” Mr. Obama said. “I’ll be honest with you. I was not sure given the strong differences we are having with Russia right now around Ukraine, whether this would sustain itself. Putin and the Russian government compartmentalized on this in a way that surprised me, and we would have not achieved this agreement had it not been for Russia’s willingness to stick with us and the other P5-plus members in insisting on a strong deal.”
Mr. Lavrov boasted that the final result “is fully consistent with the targets set out in the concept of Russia’s foreign policy, namely to achieve recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear activities, including the right to enrich uranium, with the formulation of this activity under the tight control” of the International Atomic Energy Agency.Mr. Lavrov boasted that the final result “is fully consistent with the targets set out in the concept of Russia’s foreign policy, namely to achieve recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear activities, including the right to enrich uranium, with the formulation of this activity under the tight control” of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The prospect of resumed trade with Iran may also provide some relief to the Russian economy, which has been battered by international sanctions over the Kremlin’s invasion and annexation of Crimea and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.The prospect of resumed trade with Iran may also provide some relief to the Russian economy, which has been battered by international sanctions over the Kremlin’s invasion and annexation of Crimea and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
With many important Russian companies now cut off from business dealings with the West, Mr. Putin has been looking eastward to Asia for new economic opportunities.With many important Russian companies now cut off from business dealings with the West, Mr. Putin has been looking eastward to Asia for new economic opportunities.
In his remarks, Mr. Lavrov expressed some bitterness toward the West over sanctions against Iran that he said “really hindered our companies, including carrying out financial transactions and realizing other projects together with our Iranian partners.”In his remarks, Mr. Lavrov expressed some bitterness toward the West over sanctions against Iran that he said “really hindered our companies, including carrying out financial transactions and realizing other projects together with our Iranian partners.”
The lifting of sanctions may also have a downside for Russia, though: Iran’s full return to the global oil market is expected to reduce global oil prices, putting further strain on Russia, which depends heavily on oil sales. The Kremlin has said it is ready for that, but the Russian economy is in recession, and falling oil prices would sharpen the contraction.The lifting of sanctions may also have a downside for Russia, though: Iran’s full return to the global oil market is expected to reduce global oil prices, putting further strain on Russia, which depends heavily on oil sales. The Kremlin has said it is ready for that, but the Russian economy is in recession, and falling oil prices would sharpen the contraction.