Friday, May 26, 2006

Iran, Iraq, Russia, the US and Iran's nuclear program

Steve Soto (The Left Coaster 05/26/06) writes:

After waiting for an answer from the Bush Administration to its offer for direct talks on Iraq’s future, Iran today withdrew the offer and decided instead to work with all neighboring states on a regional solution, rather than involve the US. This came after Iraq sided with Iran on its development of a nuclear energy program, and after Russia gave the finger to Bush and went ahead with selling surface-to-air missile systems to Iran.

That's an interesting new set of complications.  Here are the stories he references:

Iranian envoy rejects U.S. talks on Iraq by Kim Gamel, Yahoo! News/AP 05/26/06

Iraqi Minister Backs Iran on Nuclear Research by Richard Oppel, Jr. and John O'Neil  New York Times/Ali Jasim/Reuters 05/26/06:

The meetings in Baghdad were the first opportunity for the new government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq to tackle what is sure to be one of the most divisive issues facing his government: the relationship and influence that Iran wields in Iraq, which was a bitter enemy of Iran when Saddam Hussein was in power but whose new government contains many Shiite leaders who want close ties to Tehran.

Russia to honour Iran arms deal BBC News  05/26/06

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