Russians Sell Missiles to Iran as Uranium Enrichment Moves Forward

So lemme get this straight, at the same time the Russians are selling missiles to the class clown of the Middle East, they're complaining that the US is setting up missile defense stations inside the range of the missiles.

With the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution right around the corner, Russia apparently indents to deliver a long awaited gift to Ahmadinejad. Russia has made a point of letting Iran know that it still plans to make good on its promise of some long-range air-defense missiles, the Iranian ambassador in Moscow told http://www.jpost.com. The article also mentioned that, “Russia signed a 2007 contract to sell the S-300 missile complex, but so far has not delivered."

Apparently, Washington has decided that making nice with our European allies might be a good plan right about now, in spite of the fact that we pretty much stabbed them in the back this past Autumn. And by God’s grace, they are being forgiving. According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, Romania has agreed to host a US missile shield system, and the Czech Republic and Poland also want to get on board in supporting the ship-based SM-3 anti-missile missiles system.

Israel has specifically asked Russia to refrain from selling missiles to Tehran in the past, and has also asked Moscow support international sanctions against Iran. And Russia promptly blew that request off. Russia apparently plans to back its ally Iran in the event of an attack. Back in September, Reuters reported that "A Kremlin transcript of an interview Medvedev gave to CNN…quoted him as saying that an attack on Iran would lead to ‘a humanitarian disaster’ and risk provoking retaliation against Israel that would also affect other nations."

To make matters even more interesting, the Jerusalem Post reported in September that Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akhbar Salehi has said that Iran is ready to defend itself from any military strike. But back in August, Iran was emphatic about Israel being banned from attacking their nuclear facilities. I guess they want to try to create some one-sided rules before going to war with Israel.

So yeah, the Russians are going tho throw a hissy-fit about US missile interceptors in Romania? Tough.

Romania agreed to host anti-ballistic interceptors on its soil yesterday, in the latest sign that the US plans to push ahead with missile defence in Europe, despite jettisoning former president George W. Bush's proposals.

Following a meeting of the country's defence council, Traian Basescu, president, announced that missile interceptors would be based in the eastern-European country from 2015, at the request of Barack Obama, US president.

Mr Obama in September scrapped a Bush-era plan for a costly long-range shield of 10 missile interceptors in Poland, linked to a radar base in the Czech Republic.

Scrapping the plan caused consternation in Warsaw and Prague, which saw it as a way of permanently stationing US troops on their territory, thus giving them added security against a resurgent Russia .

All of this as Iran is moving ahead with uranium enrichment.

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered his country's atomic agency on Sunday to begin the production of higher enriched uranium, a move that's likely to deepen international skepticism about the country's real intentions on the crucial issue of enriched uranium.
In comments broadcast on state television, Ahmadinejad said: "God willing, 20 percent enrichment will start" to meet Iran's needs. He did not give a date for the start of the enrichment process.
He was speaking at a meeting attended by the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi.
Turning to Salehi, Ahmadinejad said: "Mr. Salehi, begin production of 20 percent" enriched uranium.
Producing enriched uranium is the international community's core concern over Iran's disputed nuclear program since it can be used to make nuclear weapons. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

By: Brant