Russian FM says no new sanctions on Iran; comes as Washington shelves missile defense plans

October 7th, 2009 Reports: Russia says new US plan less threateningMOSCOW — Russian's new agencies are reporting that the foreign minister says the new U.S. missile defense plan looks less threatening than a Bush-era program scrapped by President Barack Obama.

September 24th, 2009 US-Russian sanctions would put pressure on IranNEW YORK — A unified U.S.-Russian stance on sanctions against Iran would put added pressure on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to yield some ground on his nation's nuclear program. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened the door Wednesday to backing potential sanctions as a reward for President Barack Obama's decision to scale back a U.S.

September 24th, 2009 Israel welcomes Russian stand on Iran sanctionsJERUSALEM — A senior Israeli official welcomes steps by Russia toward endorsing additional sanctions against Iran as a way of stopping its nuclear program. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened the door to a firm international stand against Iran.

September 23rd, 2009 Reports: Moscow not ruling out new Iran sanctionsMOSCOW — Russian news agencies are citing an official in the Russian delegation in New York as saying Moscow does not rule out new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programs. The reports are the first indication that Russia could support additional measures to punish Iran for its defiance of the international community.

September 23rd, 2009 Medvedev lauds US move on missile defenseUNITED NATIONS — Russian president Dmitry Medvedev lauded on Wednesday the Obama administration's decision to scrap plans for an Eastern Europe-based missile shield, a major irritant in relations with Moscow. "We view this decision as a constructive step in the right direction that deserve a positive response from the international community," Medvedev said, referring to Washington's decision last week to shelve a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defense shield.

September 23rd, 2009 Russia media: Moscow not ruling out Iran sanctionsMOSCOW — Moscow is not ruling out new U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, Russian news agencies cited an official in the Russian delegation in New York as saying Wednesday.

September 23rd, 2009 Russian leader open to new Iran nukes sanctionsNEW YORK — Giving some ground on a top priority of President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that sanctions are rarely productive but he opened the door to tougher ones to halt Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program. "In some cases, sanctions are inevitable," the Russian leader said after he and Obama held talks on the sidelines of the U.N.

September 17th, 2009 Gates: US intelligence caused change in plansWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the decision to abandon the Bush administration's plans for a land-based missile defense system in Eastern Europe came about because of a change in the U.S. perception of the threat posed by Iran.

August 19th, 2009 Peres: Russia to reconsider missile sale to IranMOSCOW — Israeli President Shimon Peres said Wednesday that the Kremlin has promised to reconsider the planned delivery of powerful air defense missiles to Iran. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made the pledge during their talks Tuesday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Peres said.

July 30th, 2009 US mulling European missile defense alternativesWASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official said Thursday that the United States is considering options for European missile defense other than current plans for a system based in Poland and the Czech Republic. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow told lawmakers in the House of Representatives at a hearing on relations with Russia that the Obama administration is looking at various configurations as part of its review of missile defense plans.

June 23rd, 2009 US: missile spat with Russia will be worked outWASHINGTON — A State Department official expressed confidence Tuesday that Russian objections to any U.S. missile defense system in eastern Europe will not impede arms reduction talks.

May 1st, 2009 Obama adviser backs off Bush missile defense lineWASHINGTON — A senior adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama says that Russia has some reasonable concerns about U.S.

April 30th, 2009 Officials downplay military options vs IranWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the military option for forcing Iran to halt its nuclear program would be just temporary and ineffective and that sanctions make more sense. Gates told Senate appropriators Thursday that a military attack on Iran would merely send that country's nuclear program further underground.

April 16th, 2009 MOSCOW - There are no obstacles to the delivery of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Tehran, Iran's deputy foreign minister has said. 'There are no problems with this (S-300) contract,' Mehdi Safari said Wednesday at the end of his visit to Moscow.

February 15th, 2009 TEHRAN - Washington has indicated that it is willing to slow plans to deploy a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe if Moscow agreed to join the West to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear programme, a media report said. Senior Russian officials have insisted that contrary to US claims there is no evidence that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons programme.