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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Russia 'rethinks' Iran sanctions | Russia 'rethinks' Iran sanctions |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signalled that Moscow might be prepared to soften its opposition to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signalled that Moscow might be prepared to soften its opposition to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans. |
| Mr Medvedev, speaking after talks with US President Barack Obama, said that in some cases sanctions were "inevitable". | Mr Medvedev, speaking after talks with US President Barack Obama, said that in some cases sanctions were "inevitable". |
| Earlier, a Russian official said Moscow could support fresh sanctions if there was enough evidence from UN inspectors. | Earlier, a Russian official said Moscow could support fresh sanctions if there was enough evidence from UN inspectors. |
| Iran's president did not refer directly to the nuclear stand-off in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York. | Iran's president did not refer directly to the nuclear stand-off in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York. |
| However, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke of countries which undermined the development of other nations under the pretext of preventing arms proliferation. | However, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke of countries which undermined the development of other nations under the pretext of preventing arms proliferation. |
| He used his speech to accuse Israel of "inhuman policies in Palestine" and condemn US-led military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. | He used his speech to accuse Israel of "inhuman policies in Palestine" and condemn US-led military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Unfortunately, Iran has been violating too many of its international commitments Barack Obama | |
| Iran was ready, he said, to shake all hands "that are honestly extended to us". | Iran was ready, he said, to shake all hands "that are honestly extended to us". |
| Several countries' delegations walked out of the assembly during Mr Ahmadinejad's speech, including France and the United States. | Several countries' delegations walked out of the assembly during Mr Ahmadinejad's speech, including France and the United States. |
| The BBC's Jeremy Bowen says the speech appeared to be designed to send a variety of messages. | The BBC's Jeremy Bowen says the speech appeared to be designed to send a variety of messages. |
| For his supporters, there were more harsh words about Israel. | For his supporters, there were more harsh words about Israel. |
| But his remarks about shaking hands sounded like a deliberate echo of the language used by President Obama about the prospect of engagement with Iran, our correspondent says. | But his remarks about shaking hands sounded like a deliberate echo of the language used by President Obama about the prospect of engagement with Iran, our correspondent says. |
| Missile move | Missile move |
| President Obama wants a united position among the group of six global powers due to hold talks next week with Tehran on its nuclear programme. | President Obama wants a united position among the group of six global powers due to hold talks next week with Tehran on its nuclear programme. |
| UN ON THURSDAY Security Council: Nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament General Debate: Israeli President Benjamin NetanyahuJapanese Prime Minister Yukio HatoyamaVenezuelan President Hugo ChavezIraqi President Jalal TalabaniGeorgian President Mikhail Saakashvili UN Assembly: Key Issues Obama urges world to unite Big week for Obama at UN Protests meet Gaddafi In pictures: World leaders at UN In quotes: General Assembly | |
| Analysts say that if those talks yield nothing he wants to pursue tougher sanctions against Tehran. | Analysts say that if those talks yield nothing he wants to pursue tougher sanctions against Tehran. |
| Russia has so far opposed any fresh sanctions. | Russia has so far opposed any fresh sanctions. |
| But last week President Obama dropped plans for an anti-missile defence shield close to Russian borders. | But last week President Obama dropped plans for an anti-missile defence shield close to Russian borders. |
| There was speculation that in exchange, Moscow would make a move on sanctions against Iran. | There was speculation that in exchange, Moscow would make a move on sanctions against Iran. |
| Mr Medvedev said sanctions were rarely productive but he opened the door to the possibility if Iran pressed ahead with its suspected nuclear weapons programme. | Mr Medvedev said sanctions were rarely productive but he opened the door to the possibility if Iran pressed ahead with its suspected nuclear weapons programme. |
| "Sanctions rarely lead to productive results, but in some cases sanctions are inevitable," he said after he and Mr Obama met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. | "Sanctions rarely lead to productive results, but in some cases sanctions are inevitable," he said after he and Mr Obama met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. |
| "We need to help Iran to (make) the right decisions," he said. | "We need to help Iran to (make) the right decisions," he said. |
| Mr Obama said he and Mr Medvedev shared the goal of allowing Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy, but not nuclear weapons. | Mr Obama said he and Mr Medvedev shared the goal of allowing Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy, but not nuclear weapons. |
| "Unfortunately, Iran has been violating too many of its international commitments," Mr Obama said. | "Unfortunately, Iran has been violating too many of its international commitments," Mr Obama said. |
| "What we have discussed is how we can move in a positive direction that can resolve a potential crisis." | "What we have discussed is how we can move in a positive direction that can resolve a potential crisis." |
| Comments welcomed | Comments welcomed |
| Speaking earlier, an unnamed Russian official did not rule out UN sanctions against Iran "if there are objective grounds", Russia's state-run RIA-Novosti reported. | Speaking earlier, an unnamed Russian official did not rule out UN sanctions against Iran "if there are objective grounds", Russia's state-run RIA-Novosti reported. |
| For Russia, "the criteria are not individual evaluations, not guesswork, but the report and recommendations of the (UN) International Atomic Energy Agency", the official reportedly said. | For Russia, "the criteria are not individual evaluations, not guesswork, but the report and recommendations of the (UN) International Atomic Energy Agency", the official reportedly said. |
| Those comments were quickly welcomed by the White House. | Those comments were quickly welcomed by the White House. |
| "Their willingness to play a constructive role is extremely important," said Robert Gibbs, quoted by AFP news agency. | "Their willingness to play a constructive role is extremely important," said Robert Gibbs, quoted by AFP news agency. |
| British Foreign Minister David Miliband said on Wednesday that the six powers had agreed Iran must give a "serious response" in the forthcoming talks. | British Foreign Minister David Miliband said on Wednesday that the six powers had agreed Iran must give a "serious response" in the forthcoming talks. |
| Iran's nuclear agenda coupled with new missile technology alarms Israel | Iran's nuclear agenda coupled with new missile technology alarms Israel |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it was time "for Iran to engage with the international community". | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it was time "for Iran to engage with the international community". |
| Tehran says its nuclear programme is for civilian uses only, but Western powers suspect it is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. | Tehran says its nuclear programme is for civilian uses only, but Western powers suspect it is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. |
| Six world powers are to hold talks with Iranian officials on 1 October that are expected to cover global nuclear disarmament. | Six world powers are to hold talks with Iranian officials on 1 October that are expected to cover global nuclear disarmament. |
| Iran's nuclear plans have also come under fire at the UN General Assembly. | Iran's nuclear plans have also come under fire at the UN General Assembly. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iranian leaders were "making a tragic mistake" if they thought the international community would not respond. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iranian leaders were "making a tragic mistake" if they thought the international community would not respond. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran - and North Korea - that the world would be even tougher on proliferation. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran - and North Korea - that the world would be even tougher on proliferation. |