US trying to deprive Iran, Russia of energy transit: Velayati
Iran-Russia, Economics, 2/11/2007

Iran's Supreme Leader's Advisor for International Affairs Ali-Akbar Velayati said yesterday that it seems the US strives to deprive Iran and Russia of their strategic position to transit energy.

Velayati was speaking to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) while pointing to bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Moscow on various energy fields, raised in his meetings with Russian officials during his recent visit to the country.

He assessed as "positive" a proposal offered by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on establishment of OPEC-like gas cartel." "The Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his annual interview following a recent visit by Secretary of Russian National Security Council Igor Ivanov to Tehran, welcomed the proposal on gas cartel.

"But certain Western states are not happy with it because if it is materialized, it will undoubtedly emerge as a new phenomenal power house on international scene." He rejected certain points Moscow's tactical look at ties with Tehran, saying, "In his talks with Putin which dealt with various issues, the two sides had a common stance."

Meantime, Supreme Leader's Advisor for International Affairs Ali-Akbar Velayati said yesterday that President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's response to a message of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was a strategic act.

Velayati was speaking to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) while pointing to Putin's message for the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad which was delivered by Secretary of Russian National Security Council Igor Ivanov during his recent visit to Tehran.

He assessed the message as "a major strategic step" taken by Russia for expansion of ties with Iran. "Tehran-Moscow relations have strategic characteristics. Ivanov's visit to Tehran as well as my recent visit to Moscow and exchange of messages between the Iranian and Russian presidents indicated the strategic nature of bilateral ties," he said.
Velayati added, "The development was a turning point in ties between the two countries. We see its positive impact on the stance of Russia and Putin in particular."

He said a speech delivered by Putin at the 43rd Conference on Security Policy in Munich, Germany, and his strong criticism of the US unilateralism in the world and conduction of tests without fuel at Iran's Bushehr power plant by Russia were signs of such positive outcomes.
On content of Putin's message, he said, "It did not merely dealt with Iran's nuclear case alone. It was more comprehensive than nuclear issue.

"Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has played an active role on Iran's nuclear case. Iran believes Moscow has had a balanced stance on the issue. Russia respects Iran's right to access peaceful nuclear energy while certain countries including the US are against such a right." Velayati stressed, "Iran's nuclear issue is taking its special course with ups and downs. The nuclear case is related to Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

Previous Stories:
  Putin welcomes Supreme Leader's proposal   (2/4/2007)
  Iran sees nuclear issue returning to Atomic agency   (11/27/2006)
  Larijani: Russia can play effective role in process of nuclear talks   (10/3/2006)
  Iran nuclear plant operational in 2007   (9/27/2006)

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