Russia: Russia's stance on Iran's nuclear programme took centre stage yesterday as the US and the European Union sought to win Moscow's support for a hard-hitting United Nations Security Council resolution.
But their efforts - inspired by Russia and China's rejection this week of a draft resolution that appeared to pave the way to sanctions - face a double challenge. Moscow has deep-seated concerns about agreeing a resolution under Article 7 of the UN charter, which it believes could be used at a later date to justify military conflict.
"The Russians appear to have the deepest reservations," said one European diplomat. "The Chinese appear to be more flexible."
The US and Europe also need to overcome a second obstacle - the current difficult relations between Moscow and the West.
These were thrown into relief yesterday by US vice-president Dick Cheney's accusation that Russia had been guilty of "blackmail" against close neighbours such as Ukraine. On a series of issues, including Russia's energy policy, Belarus and the planned expansion of Nato, Russia is at loggerheads with US and European states.
On the Iran dossier, top diplomats from the permanent five members of the UN Security Council have met twice in recent weeks. Each time, Russian objections to the US and EU's current course of action have left the most lasting impact.
A day after the most recent meeting, on Tuesday night, the British and French presented their draft Security Council resolution in New York. The resolution would legally oblige Iran to suspend uranium enrichment - the process that can create weapons-grade material - by an unspecified deadline, thought to be about one month.
Such a timeline could bring the issue to a head in the run-up to Russia's hosting of the summit of eight industrialised countries in July. "If the Russians say our approach is a problem, they should come forward with another solution," said a French diplomat.
Moscow's public stance on Iran, however, remains unchanged: that the crisis can be resolved only by diplomatic means. It insists that Iran's intention to produce weapons is unproven, and that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors must be given a chance to complete their work.
It has issued strongly worded calls for Iran to restore its moratorium on uranium enrichment. But one Moscow official argues that, since the moratorium was voluntary and Iran is not in breach of international law by carrying out enrichment, coercive means to force it to restore the moratorium are not justifiable.
Privately, diplomats say Russia concedes Iran is almost certainly seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, and is just as concerned as any of its partners.
Indeed, senior officials in Moscow are understood to be angered by portrayals of them in the US media as seeking to appease Tehran or put commercial relationships above the goals of non-proliferation. Russia has agreed contracts of $1 billion (€786 million) each to build a reactor at Bushehr and provide Iran with an air defence system. The Russian government believes it has a better understanding of Iran - due to a relationship the US lacks - and of what actions are likely to be effective. It also fears the US has a hidden agenda: regime change.
Yesterday, Dominique de Villepin, France's prime minister, sought to reassure Moscow. "Military action is certainly not the solution," he said. "Not only does it not solve anything, but it increases risks."
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, stressed in talks with President Bush on Wednesday night the importance of moving ahead slowly to keep the coalition together, with Russia on board.
- (Financial Times service)