US says Russian sale of advanced S-300 system to Iran, not against what Washington likes to call sanctions on the strategic, oil-rich country.

 

June 11, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - British new foreign minister William Hague urged other western countries to practically impose the latest round of sanctions against Iran unless the latter decides to halt its already advanced nuclear program.

 

‘I think it is very important that the European Union does take further measures, that we show the European Union is prepared on this subject and others to use its weight in the world,’ Hague said. In reality an economic sanction on the beating heart of the world’s energy lifeline -Iran- could exasperate the already dire economic situation across the Eurozone.

Earlier the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad trashed the UNSC resolution against Iran saying it would have no effects on delaying the country’s nuclear program. He said, ‘ these sanctions were ‘the same as pesky flies, these resolutions have no value ... it is like a used handkerchief that should be thrown in the waste bin.’ Reuters  reported.

Western nations view Iran’s ability to enrich uranium as detrimental for their long-held monopoly and control over global trades, and security. Wednesday’s UNSC resolution despite US publicity would be ineffective at best.

Both Russia and China called for expansion of commercial relations with Iran. Moscow issued a statement saying it seeks to insure all its trades with Iran will remain intact. Yesterday, a US top ranking official acknowledged the limitation of sanctions. 'The [Resolution] 1929 prohibits the sale and transfer of items on the U.S. Register of Conventional Arms, which does not include the S-300. That said, this is a sale that Russia concluded with Iran a number of years ago and Russia has exercised responsibility and restraint and has not, at this point, delivered those missiles to Iran,' State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said during his weekly briefing. Russia has reiterated its commitment to complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Tehran plans to expand its domestic nuclear enrichment program. Iranian officials say newer enrichment plants would start operation soon. Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s envoy to the UN nuclear watchdog said the sanctions would not undermine a nuclear program. ‘Nothing will change. The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue uranium enrichment activities,’ Ali Asghar Soltanieh said.