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PM Olmert and Russian President Putin shaking hands before their meeting in Moscow on Thursday. (Moshe Milner / GPO) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 18:13 19/10/2007 Iran says ready to help nations develop nuclear programs By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Iran is ready to establish nuclear energy cooperation with other countries, based on the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's foreign minister said on Friday. He was speaking during a visit to the western Afghan city of Herat for a conference of the Economic Cooperation Organization. " Advertisement Under the watch of the agency (the IAEA), the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to cooperate with other countries in the nuclear field with a peaceful purpose," Manouchehr Mottaki said when a journalist asked if Iran was prepared to cooperate on nuclear energy with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries. "...I emphasize that this (cooperation) will have to be in the framework of the supervision of the international atomic agency," he added. The United States and some of its Western allies have accused Tehran of trying to build a nuclear bomb and have imposed economic sanctions. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. Top officer: Iran sanctions need Russian backing to be effective Russian support of increased economic sanctions against Iran is necessary to stop the Islamic regime from developing nuclear weapons, former National Security chief Major General Giora Eiland told Army Radio on Friday. "Israel's central mistake has to do with its misunderstand of the Russia's relationship with the United States," Eiland was quoted as saying. "In this regard, we could might have served to turn the American attention to the possibility of compromising with the Russians on certain matters, if the nuclear issue is so important to us and to Washington." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during their talks in Moscow that the Kremlin always takes Israeli security into account when determining its Middle East policy. Still, the Russian leader told Olmert that Russia would not support Israel's push for harsher sanctions on Iran. Olmert was in Moscow on an unexpected visit to press the Kremlin to support new economic sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear activities and urging Russia not to sell arms to Iran or Syria. According to a senior defense official involved in the Iranian issue, the prime minister's hastily scheduled visit to Russia stemmed from a situation assessment two weeks ago that discerned a "significant retreat in Russia's position on continued diplomatic activity to impose sanctions on Iran via the Security Council." During the talks, Putin briefed Olmert on his visit to Tehran earlier this week, while Olmert briefed the Russian president on Israel's intelligence assessments of Iran's nuclear program. Olmert said economic sanctions could persuade Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and its drive to acquire nuclear weapons, but to do so, they must be stepped up. The meeting came amid mixed signals over the issue from Putin and Russian resistance to a new, third round of United Nations sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. Olmert told Putin that Russia could exert a stabilizing influence in the Middle East, but only by "giving due weight to Israel's security interests." Putin replied that Russian policy always takes Israel's security into account. Olmert also gave Putin his assessment of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian track. According to the Prime Minister's Bureau, Putin praised Olmert for his efforts in this sphere and promised to do his best to make the upcoming international conference in Annapolis succeed. A senior official in the prime minister's entourage said that Olmert was pleased with the results of the meeting. "Russian President Vladimir Putin exhibited great understanding of the Israeli position regarding all matters on the agenda, especially with the Iranian issue," the official said after the talks. "There was an open and serious atmosphere [in the meeting] and the prime minister is very pleased with the results of his visit," he added. Meanwhile, President Shimon Peres said Thursday that Iran is developing nuclear weapons to sow war and destruction. "Everyone knows what its true intentions are, and many intelligence organizations worldwide have clear evidence of this," the president said in a press statement. "Even if Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is not convinced that Iran is developing nuclear capabilities for the purpose of war, everyone knows what its intentions are." "The world must open its eyes wide, before it is too late. Many times in history, it was already too late to prevent man-made horrors and bloodshed. That was the case with Stalin and Hitler, and now, we are approaching a similar situation with [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad," the president continued, adding Ahmadinejad calls openly for Israel's destruction and is investing billions in developing long-range missiles with nuclear warheads. Related articles: Peres: World knows Iran is seeking nuclear weapons Bush warns nuclear Iran could spur 'World War III' Former Mossad agent downplays Iranian threat Bookmark to del.icio.us Hip Hop Rabbi Marc Schneier is on a mission to improve Jewish-Muslim relations. Man in a trap Olmert has a mandate from his people, but it will not help him in light of his moral weakness   1.   Olmert and Putin 09:43  |  Anton 19/10/07   2.   Germany is financing the Bomb, nuke Teheran and Berlin NOW 10:42  |  MAD 19/10/07   3.   Iran is no Palestian 10:43  |  adnan 19/10/07   4.   Germans respect Russia because they raped 2 million, Stalingrad.. 10:51  |  to 1. Anton 19/10/07   5.   Russia has a secret which Israel should discover and exploit 11:07  |  Natallie Durson 19/10/07   6.   #2, MAD and and #4 11:11  |  Anton 19/10/07   7.   this Olmert is joke 11:26  |  Sam (UK) 19/10/07   8.   iran`s issue 11:31  |  mehdi 19/10/07   9.   Putin replied that Russian policy always takes Israel`s security 11:32  |  aes 19/10/07   10.   actually we probably respect them 11:38  |  cool 19/10/07   11.   heheheheheheheh 11:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/10/07   12.   For Natallie Durson # 5 11:51  |  Clickfool 19/10/07   13.   Iran sanctions need German stop of collaboration 11:56  |  Jonathan S 19/10/07   14.   Is fear driving Bush and Olmert? 12:00  |  lean Lion 19/10/07   15.   #13 Jonathan S 12:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/10/07   16.   Putin anger about the Kaczynskis Bush connection 12:32  |  European 19/10/07   17.   Russia has a secret 12:41  |  Reuben 19/10/07   18.   Sanctions vs Fanatics 13:00  |  Brod 19/10/07   19.   America has a secret 13:08  |  Isa 19/10/07   20.   Sanctions could work 13:17  |  Jonathan S 19/10/07   21.   Clickfool and russian diplomacy 13:29  |  British academic 19/10/07   22.   Russia needs Israels continued existence to help its weapons sale 13:30  |  Alan 19/10/07   23.   Vlady`s way of sending a message 15:01  |  ottomatik 19/10/07   24.   #5 & #12 15:03  |  Cool B 19/10/07   25.   #21 15:09  |  European 19/10/07   26.   Nathalie Durson # 5 15:13  |  David Nigel Braham 19/10/07   27.   Love these promises # 11 15:21  |  Israeli 19/10/07   28.   Iran will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons 15:23  |  Iranian 19/10/07   29.   #25 Israeli 15:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/10/07   30.   #20. Sanctions are great... 15:50  |  ManInTheMiddle 19/10/07   31.   Does Israel`s EU policy take Russian concerns into account? No 16:04  |  Why 19/10/07   32.   German Spare Part/Close All Iranian Embassies/Ally W/Iranians 16:09  |  True Moral 19/10/07   33.   Back in the USSR 16:11  |  Kevin 19/10/07   34.   For those who don`t see the threat 16:13  |  Benzaquen 19/10/07   35.   I am not buying Peres propaganda 16:20  |  Mark B. 19/10/07   36.   # 5 Tell That To The People Of Chechnya 16:20  |  Tony Anthony 19/10/07   37.   Who "introduced" nuclear weapons in the ME? 16:26  |  Mark Lincoln 19/10/07   38.   Russian backing? 17:24  |  Chick 19/10/07   39.   iranian #28 i thought you guys were developing nuclear power for 18:38  |  terrornator 19/10/07   40.   # 28 Iranian 19:10  |  Lynn 19/10/07   41.   # 5 Durson 19:12  |  Lynn 19/10/07   42.   # 17 Reuben 19:20  |  Lynn 19/10/07   43.   # 12 Clicky 19:23  |  Lynn 19/10/07   44.   #37 19:33  |  European 19/10/07   45.   # 44, European 21:23  |  Another European 19/10/07   46.   Bomb not Iran but Israel 22:13  |  Alex 19/10/07   47.   wonderful, democratic Iran 22:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/10/07   48.   Iran proliferating nukes 22:58  |  Brod 19/10/07   49.   #47 Brod. What are you talking about? 23:35  |  Maureen Ann 19/10/07   50.   Iran is serious about the IAEA.At last America has admitted that 23:52  |  lakshmi 19/10/07   51.   Alex #46 00:29  |  Brod 20/10/07   52.   Durson, stop pandering to our enemies 01:14  |  Zack 20/10/07   53.   to: heheheheheheheheheheheh #11 01:16  |  Barry 20/10/07   54.   Click fool - you obviously understand very little 01:21  |  Barry 20/10/07   55.   the warmth of the iranian largesse is like the sun 02:04  |  Mark 20/10/07   56.   Russian on good terms with neighbours 02:52  |  Sabra 20/10/07   57.   Lakshmi # 50 in La La land - Ascending Higher and Higher 04:36  |  Eli 20/10/07   58.   # 5 Natalie Durson 05:36  |  Jim 20/10/07   59.   Iran wortless speaches 07:28  |  Valley Forge 20/10/07   60.   Why no us as well? 07:45  |  Esther 20/10/07   61.   Re Anton #, of mice and men.... 07:53  |  Esther 20/10/07   62.   Iran needs help Estonia, Latvia, Georgia develop Nuclear Weapons 08:07  |  Genuine Tosefta 20/10/07   63.   #62 09:11  |  European 20/10/07

Today Online Israel rejects UN envoy's bid to open talks on Shaba Farms Responses: 339 Aluf Benn: Iran nuclear threat seems far more frightening from Israel Responses: 160 President Peres calls for more inclusive definition of Judaism Responses: 83 FM Livni condemns Belarusian President for anti-Semitic jibe Responses: 95 Firillas: On Armenia, what can Turkey learn from German reaction to Holocaust Responses: 51 Bar'el: Some Israeli captives are more equal than others Responses: 19 Rosner's Domain * Israel's fear: Will Rice put a bridging proposal on the table? * WTR: 75% of Americans don't believe in peace process * Egypt blames IDF soldiers for arms smuggling to Gaza * Guest: Should the Saudis attend Annapolis? More Headlines 08:01 Report: Israeli mole took pictures of Syrian nuclear facility 10:01 Sarkozy to tell Olmert: Now is the time for peace with Palestinians 08:13 Court gives war panel 10 days to justify lack of personal findings 20:12 Hezbollah slams U.S. call for 'partnership' with Lebanon army 06:56 Nazi vase surrendered to authorities after public plea 08:19 UN to act against interpreter who said Syria has 'nuclear' facility 21:31 Eight-time world surfing champion in Israel to promote peace 23:04 Egypt arrests 18 Eritreans planning to sneak into Israel 18:13 Iran says ready to help nations develop nuclear programs 19:14 Blair gets early backing in race to be EU's first president Previous Editions Select Day 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct

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