Following Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s charming call for Israel to be “wiped off the map” Russia’s response, coming mainly from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who is currently in the Middle East, has been rather mixed.

On the plus side, came this blunt condemnation:

“What I have seen on television is unacceptable. We will convey our opinion to Iran.”

Lavrov later commented that Iran was now more likely to find itself hauled before the UN Security Council:

“I cannot fail to recognize that those who favor transferring the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council now have an additional argument.”

But, at the same time, Lavrov felt the need to reaffirm Russia’s opposition to taking Iran to the Security Council:

“Our position on Iran remains unchanged. We favor cooperation through the IAEA in dealing with problems related to the Iranian nuclear program.”

So, essentially, I think Russia’s underlying position remains unchanged. Russia’s desire to (a) sell nuclear material to Iran and (b) continue to thumb their noses at the rest of the world remains and, although the Russian Foreign Minister has been forced to condemn Ahmadinejad’s comments, he will continue to do his best to keep Iran away from the Security Council. Having said that, his job has got much more difficult, as opinion in the rest of the world seems to have shifted.

By the way, following the UN’s report implicating Syria in involvement in the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Lavrov pretty much ruled out further significant action against the Baathist regime:

“I do not think one may speak seriously about sanctions.”

Good to see Russia stands by her friends. Shame about the company she keeps.

Tagged as: Middle East, United Nations