Russia turns on 'irresponsible Iran'

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http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=182690

Russia turns on 'irresponsible Iran'

By JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP

07/26/2010 21:46

Iran dismisses diplomatic assault as EU, Canada impose sanctions.

Russia turned on Iran, accusing it of " fruitless and irresponsible rhetoric " and

adding its voice to a diplomatic assault Monday which included unilateral

sanctions from both the EU and Canada, as well as warnings from Iran's

opposition party that Ahmadinejad's regime could suffer the same fate as the

deposed Shah.

The Russian remark came after criticism from Tehran over Moscow's support for UN

sanctions last month. In the past, Iran had depended on allies Russia and China

— and their veto power at the Security Council — to block tough penalties, but

Russia sided with the US and its allies and endorsed the sanctions, levied in a

bid to force Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry suggested " Iran's leaders take concrete and

constructive steps to work the situation out. "

The European Union and Canada formally adopted unilateral sanctions against Iran

earlier Monday which target the country's energy, banking, and foreign trade

sectors.

The move came on the heels of the unilateral US sanctions passed last month by

the Senate. June's sanctions showed signs of affecting Iran's airline industry.

The EU sanctions were agreed to in principle by European leaders in June, and

are the latest in a series of measures taken by the international community in

an effort to halt Iran's nuclear program.

" We have a comprehensive set of sanctions. This is something where we have all

27 countries working together, " EU foreign policy chief Ashton said

ahead of the meeting.

In Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said the country's new

measures will include a ban on any new Canadian investment in Iran's oil and gas

sector, and restrictions on exporting goods that could be used in nuclear

programs.

Canadian Prime Minister Harper explained Canada's sanctions,

saying " These sanctions are in no way intended to punish the Iranian people, "

said Canadian Prime Minister Harper. " These targeted measures are

designed to hamper attempts by Iran to develop nuclear, chemical, biological and

missile programs " and to persuade the country to engage in negotiations.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed the sanctions, saying they " will

not affect Iran, " and only " complicate the situation and push the sides further

away from reaching agreement. "

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded to UN sanctions in June by

saying they were " worthless " and should only go into " the trash bin, " in a

report cited by Bloomberg News.