Lavrov: Russia won't abide nuclear-armed Iran

Russian FM reassures Olmert that Moscow is committed to keeping nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, AP
olmert lavrov gay couple shopping 224.8 (photo credit: GPO [file])
olmert lavrov gay couple shopping 224.8
(photo credit: GPO [file])
Russia is committed to stopping Iranian nuclearization for military purposes, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Moscow on Monday night. Olmert asked Lavrov to ratchet up his country's "involvement in the international efforts to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons," an official from Olmert's office said. Lavrov also told Olmert that Russia would continue to act to secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit and that Moscow was committed to steering clear of having contacts with Hamas so long as the group failed to abide by the Quartet conditions. During his meeting with Lavrov, Olmert also urged Russia to support Israel-Syria peace talks and "prevent weapons from Syria from reaching extremist elements in Lebanon, such as Hizbullah," an official from Olmert's office said. He spoke on condition of anonymity as the meeting's content was not officially made public. Olmert was set to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday. Olmert said Sunday that he would emphasize Israel's security concerns, including "the supply of arms to irresponsible elements whose activities worry us very much." He also said he would work to resolve "the Iranian problem, in which Russia plays a special role." Iran says it plans to buy from Russia advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles that could target aircraft sent to destroy its nuclear facilities. Syria reportedly has asked to buy them too. Russia has not confirmed the reports, but Lavrov said recently his government was prepared to sell Syria arms of a "defensive character." On sales to Iran, state weapons exporter Rosoboronexport said only that "we do not have such information," the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said in Moscow that "the international community's challenge is to strengthen moderate and pragmatic forces in the Middle East, and acts that strengthen extremist elements are counterproductive." Russia, meanwhile, is emphasizing its role as one of the Quartet. "The situation in the Middle East, the peace process and international priorities for its promotion ... will be among the central issue on the agenda," a Kremlin official said.