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Russian President Putin (right) and PM Olmert speaking to reporters in Moscow on Wednesday. (AP)
Last update - 16:04 22/10/2006
Putin to PM: Using force against Iran could end in disaster
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced any military operation against Iran in a meeting last week with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Putin told Olmert in the Moscow meeting that foiling Iran's nuclear program could end in disaster for the world.

Russian sources attached great importance to the Russian president's first mention of a military option in talks with an Israeli leader.

Olmert also discussed the Iranian nuclear program with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, in the first meeting in eleven years between an Israeli premier and a Russian defense minister.

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During his meeting with Putin, Olmert didn't talk about a military operation, but emphasized that responsibility for handling Tehran lies also with Russia, not only the U.S.

The Russian president recounted that in past talks with U.S. President George W. Bush and his aides, he had discussed how to prevent Iranian acquisition of nuclear arms. In those discussions, Putin asked if the U.S. could conduct a military operation and had a clear plan. He said the Americans didn't answer.

Putin's comments can be interpreted in two ways. It is either possible that the Americans evaded the question, or that they do not have effective military capability or an operational plan to bring to a substantial setback to the Iranian nuclear program.

In any case, the Putin administration believes that only negotiations will prevent or at least delay Iranian nuclear ambitions. This is why military action against Tehran is not an option for Russia.

Olmert asked Putin to join an American-European move to impose severe sanctions on Iran, which he referred to in a press briefing saying, "The Iranians need to be afraid that what they don't want to happen will actually happen to them."

The Prime Minister's Office declined to provide a statement and said they do not comment on the content of the premier's meetings in Moscow.

Israel hopes that if Iran does not obey international demands and does not stop enriching uranium, Russia will threaten not to complete construction of the Bushehr nuclear reactor and not to supply the uranium needed to fuel it.

The Bushehr reactor, intended to generate electricity, is about four years behind schedule in starting operations. Russian and Western sources attribute the delay to both technical problems in the construction of the reactor and to Russian government decisions. Israeli and American experts do not believe Moscow is interested in Iran having nuclear weapons.

The UN Security Council is continuing in its efforts to draft a formula for sanctions that is acceptable to all five permanent members.

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  1.   Attacking Iran is a big mistake 11:43  |  gus 22/10/06
  2.   Putin 11:57  |  Brod 22/10/06
  3.   Ironic 12:02  |  An Arab Neighbor 22/10/06
  4.   If Israel has the right to have nuclear bombs, so does Iran 12:11  |  honest Israeli 22/10/06
  5.   Mohammed Putin 12:49  |  Chaim Gorenstein 22/10/06
  6.   @3, honest israeli aka khaled 13:30  |  vladimir 22/10/06
  7.   about this 13:50  |  it really does not 22/10/06
  8.   RE: HONEST ISRAELI 14:18  |  tzvi 22/10/06
  9.   Those foolish Russians..... 14:19  |  Clickfool 22/10/06
  10.   USA has had it if it attacks Iran 14:38  |  BB 22/10/06
  11.   To clickfoolish post 9 14:41  |  Since when? 22/10/06
  12.   to 8 just lies ISRAEL DID THREATENED TO USE THEM MANY TIMES!!!! 15:06  |  MICHELE 22/10/06
  13.   BOMBING IRAN IN TO SUBMITION IS WAY PASS DUE 15:09  |  Like it is. 22/10/06
  14.   Let`s have a lool on a wider angle 15:09  |  charles 22/10/06
  15.   Tzvi get real 15:21  |  Fellow Israeli 22/10/06
  16.   Give Iran the Nukes they want 15:23  |  Rav Harley 22/10/06
  17.   Ironic 15:23  |  Wamuyuwa 22/10/06
  18.   OIL THEFT 15:38  |  BB 22/10/06
  19.   To #15 Get Real 15:42  |  Rav Harley 22/10/06
  20.   # 12 MICHELE 15:56  |  Joseph E . 22/10/06
  21.   Force against Iran 16:07  |  Cherokee Woman 22/10/06
  22.   # 14 charles 16:22  |  Joseph E . 22/10/06
  23.   Iran`s Nukes 16:29  |  * BEN JABO 22/10/06
  24.   For BB # 10 16:30  |  Clickfool 22/10/06
  25.   # 16 Rav Harley 16:37  |  Joseph E . 22/10/06
  26.   Iran wouldn`t stand a chance againt a US military strike. 16:46  |  Devin 22/10/06
  27.   bull roar believe nothing from him 17:09  |  ralph 22/10/06
  28.   Like, Duh Dude! 17:18  |  Mark Lincoln 22/10/06
  29.   13 and 16 17:51  |  nukular9 22/10/06
  30.   To Number 25 18:03  |  Rav Harley 22/10/06
  31.   Cold shoulder 18:11  |  Anoosh 22/10/06
  32.   To Number 29 18:13  |  Rav Harley 22/10/06
  33.   Honest Israel????????? 18:45  |  E. Barone 22/10/06
  34.   The ignorance of Devin ( # 26) is breathtaking 18:45  |  Clickfool 22/10/06
  35.   # 30 Rav Harley 19:24  |  Joseph E . 22/10/06
  36.   alternative to sanctions 19:30  |  sandy 22/10/06
  37.   re; #33 19:45  |  sandy 22/10/06
  38.   To # 35 20:12  |  Rav Harley 22/10/06
  39.   you`re damn right about devin,clickfool 20:30  |  minuteman III 22/10/06
  40.   Iran Russia 20:48  |  Mike 22/10/06
  41.   Prison Planet 22:45  |  Zunder 22/10/06
  42.   PUTIN 23:58  |  WM GULCZYNSKI 22/10/06
  43.   #26 --- Dream on 17:12  |  Roshan 23/10/06
  44.   #24 --- For your Info 17:17  |  Roshan 23/10/06
  45.   Iran, Russia, Israel, NK 18:46  |  Pride found in lies 23/10/06
  46.   tzvi 19:18  |  Ed 23/10/06
  47.   Cherokee Woman 19:29  |  Ed 23/10/06
  48.   Ben Jabo 19:32  |  Ed 23/10/06
  49.   Devin 19:36  |  Ed 23/10/06
  50.   Puttyboy +Olmert =no Israel 21:18  |  Heather Ross 23/10/06
  51.   #48 ED 22:47  |  * BEN JABO 23/10/06
  52.   #48-2 ED 00:03  |  * BEN JABO 24/10/06
  53.   it`s too late 00:04  |  benjamin 24/10/06
  54.   Benjamin Is What You Say True??? #53 01:42  |  Astasheiks 24/10/06
  55.   Gods judgement 01:59  |  tom 24/10/06
  56.   It`s so obvious 06:44  |  Siran 24/10/06
  57.   Mohammed Goyim Putin 08:10  |  debalazo 24/10/06
  58.   Stupid zionists 12:46  |  E 24/10/06
  59.   #58- STUPID NON-ZIONISTS 19:25  |  * BEN JABO 24/10/06
  60.   Reality 20:21  |  don 24/10/06
  61.   Oil Theft 16:52  |  Larry 29/10/06
  62.   The Idiot of Seattle 09:16  |  MJStoddard 13/12/06
  63.   Wake the HECK up!!! 01:04  |  Nova 05/06/07
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