A Lesson Learned for Israel: Don't Trust the Russian Government

Back in April, it was stated on this website:

Meanwhile the Israelis are selling spy drones to Russia in hope that Russia will not sell anti-aircraft missile system to Iran.


Russia admitted that it signed a deal, two years ago, to sell Iran a billion dollars worth of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. Russia has shipped some components, and trained some Iranian troops, but has not completed delivery. That's because Russia has been negotiating with the U.S., Israel and European nations, to obtain a bribe of sufficient size to make it worthwhile to lose the sale to Iran. This has not pleased the Iranians, but there's not much they can do about it.


Any bets on if Russia stops selling the anti-aircraft components to Iran in a round about way?

The Washington Times had it wrong as did Israel...

As do some people who write into the Wall Street Journal:

In "Obama and Putin's Russia" (Review and Outlook, July 6), you cite the pro-Kremlin analyst Gleb Pavlovsky that "there's not a single serious global issue where the United States is dependent on Russia today." In fact, Washington is counting on Russia to help solve the Iranian nuclear crisis.

Moscow offered Tehran the option of sending its spent nuclear fuel to Russia for reprocessing. That plan permits Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear power while preventing use of spent nuclear fuel to build bombs. Russia has also frozen the sale of its sophisticated S-300 antimissile system to Iran. Without it, Iran would find it difficult to defend itself against Israeli or U.S. air strikes.

Russia is helping to solve the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully, even though it would benefit enormously from an Israeli or American attack on Iran. Russia and Iran are among the world's top exporters of oil and natural gas. If military action in the Persian Gulf damaged Iran's exports or closed the Strait of Hormuz, the price of oil and gas would skyrocket. The Russian economy would rise like a phoenix from the ashes on surging oil revenues.

A defanged Iranian nuclear program would undermine the U.S. rationale for a missile defense in Eastern Europe. Without a nuclear Iran, Russia might persuade the U.S. to dismantle the missile defense on its doorstep.

Russia is acting responsibly regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and, in the process, can help U.S. interests.

Frank Richter
Detroit

The sale of the S-300 to Iran continues...

The Israelis had it right when they sold drones to Georgia. The question should be asked, will Russia use their spy drones against Georgia?

In the end, Russia gets the drones and sells the missile defense system to Iran..