Mutual Hegemony Of Iran And Russia (Daniel)Mutual Hegemony Of Iran And Russia (Daniel)

Iran to buy more Russian weapons, foster cooperation – Khamenei aide

Published time: 5 Feb, 2016 11:42

Members of the Iranian Army participate in a parade marking the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), in Tehran September 22, 2015. © Raheb Homavandi / Reuters

 

Tehran will buy more Russian-made military hardware, an advisor to Iran’s supreme leader has said during a three-day visit to Moscow. Defense ties, among other issues, were at the heart of discussions during the trip.“Iran is willing to buy additional amounts [of weapons] from Russia, and the Russian government wants to positively respond to such requests as well,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as quoted by RIA Novosti. Velayati arrived in Russia on February 1 to discuss strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. He is believed to be one of the most important figures in the Iranian establishment, given his decades-long experience as Iran’s foreign minister and two presidential campaigns.
It is still unclear which weapons systems could be purchased by the Iranian military, as certain sanctions, including on military procurement, remain in place under a UN Security Council resolution adopted in July 2015.
Earlier in November, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan announced that Tehran will receive Russian S-300 air defense systems by the end of the Iranian year, which is March 20, 2016.
The contract to supply the S-300s to Iran was signed in 2007, but three years later the deal was put on hold by Moscow. Tehran hit back, filing a nearly-$4 billion lawsuit against Russian arms dealer Rosoboronexport with a Geneva arbitration tribunal.
Most of the anti-Iranian economic and financial sanctions were lifted in January as part of the so-called nuclear deal. But Iran is only allowed to purchase conventional arms such as tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft and naval vessels – and only if the UN Security Council unanimously approves such deals.
Nevertheless, on January 17 the US Treasury imposed a new set of sanctions on 11 companies and individuals which it claimed had helped to supply Iran’s ballistic missile program. The Obama administration delayed enforcing the sanctions for more than two weeks while negotiations to release two US prisoners being held in Iran were taking place, according to Reuters.
Previously, senior officials from Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) – Russia’s flagship military plant and the world’s largest tank manufacturer – said it could take part in various arms deals with Iran. Alexey Zharich, deputy director general of UVZ, told RIA Novosti on Wednesday the company is ready to launch licensed production of T-90S main battle tanks in Iran, if the remaining sanctions are lifted. “We always said we are ready to work with Iran,” he added.
With its 425,000-strong armed forces, Iran is considered one of the most powerful military actors in the region. It currently operates various weapons systems, including dozens of British-made Chieftain and US-made M-60 Patton tanks, apparently supplied to Iran before the 1979 revolution. A remarkable share of the Iranian military’s inventory is made up by Soviet- and Russian-built systems.
Iran has been known to take successful steps to survive military sanctions by domestically developing its own modern arms, including Zulfiqar battle tanks, Shahab-3 ballistic missiles, Moudge-class frigates and various other boats, submarines, drones, military vehicles and fighter planes.

Putin Preparing For The Inevitable (Rev 15:2)

Vladimir Putin orders Russian security council to stockpile nuclear protective equipment

President says country must be prepared for threats ‘both in peacetime, and – God forbid… in wartime’

• Damien Sharkov

Russian troops in protective gear during training in 2010 Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his security council to assess Russia’s readiness to survive a nuclear, chemical or biological disaster and has told them to stockpile protective equipment if necessary.

The order was given during one of Putin’s regular meetings with the council that is made up of the heads of Russia’s intelligence, defence and law enforcement agencies. High-ranking ministers and the speaker of the Russian house of parliament are also permanent members of the group.

According to the government website, Putin told the council that it was important to review and potentially strengthen Russia’s defence protocols against “nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological threats, both in peacetime, and—God forbid, of course—in wartime.”

“We have to analyse to what extent they correspond to the realities of today and, if the need arises, make the required revisions,” Putin said.

The Russian president also proposed to the council that Russia should begin developing and producing personal protective equipment against nuclear, biological or chemical threats. “In the near future we should set up an inventory of individual means of protection for citizens, to determine which of them have become theoretically and technically obsolete, and develop measures to replenish stocks of such assets in accordance with modern designs,” Putin said.

During his address, Putin used the example of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan to illustrate the the need for the new defences. He also said that Moscow should be wary about the safety of nuclear power plants and businesses that handle toxic chemicals and make sure that they follow updated procedures to avoid accidents. According to the country’s state nuclear agency Rosatom, Russia has 10 nuclear power plants.

Russia Prepares For Nuclear War (Rev 15)

 
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ORDERS RUSSIA TO STOCKPILE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR NUCLEAR THREAT

OCTOBER 31, 2015

George Zapo

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his Security Council to evaluate Russia’s readiness to survive a nuclear, biological, or chemical disaster. In addition, Putin also told them to stockpile protective equipment if necessary.

Putin gave specific orders during one of his regular meetings with the council – a group made up of the heads of Russia’s law enforcement, defense, and intelligence agencies. Newsweek reports, in addition to the Russian Security Council, Putin ordered his high-ranking ministers and the speaker of the Russian house of parliament, as well as permanent members of the group, to make sure protective equipment is available and working correctly, and if not, make the necessary adjustments.
Putin told the council that it was imperative to review and if necessary, strengthen Russia’s defense protocols against “nuclear, radiological, chemical, and biological threats, both in peacetime and — God forbid, of course — in wartime.”

Newsweek‘s coverage of the demands made by President Vladimir Putin included a statement about his ordered course of action.

“We have to analyze to what extent they correspond to the realities of today and, if the need arises, make the required revisions.”

Putin also proposed to the council that Russia should start developing and producing personal protective equipment against nuclear, biological, or chemical threats.

“In the near future we should set up an inventory of individual means of protection for citizens, to determine which of them have become theoretically and technically obsolete, and develop measures to replenish stocks of such assets in accordance with modern designs.”

During his public address, President Putin used the example of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan to express the need for a new defense buildup. The Russian President also cited that Moscow should be cautious and privy to the safety of nuclear power plants and businesses that handle toxic chemicals and make sure that they follow updated procedures in order to avoid accidents. According to Russia’ state nuclear agency, Rosatom, Russia has 10 nuclear power plants.
CNN’s article on the actions of Putin paint an entirely different picture concerning Putin’s desire to develop and produce nuclear, biological, and chemical protective gear for the Russian government and citizens.

According to CNN, on October 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he’s adding more nuclear missiles and is building a new generation of non-nuclear ones that could strike U.S. soil. Additionally, Russia’s military involvement in Syria, more than years after it annexed Crimea in Ukraine, could be viewed as aggressive, provocative, or simply military maneuvers.

In addition to the Russian military actions in Syria and Crimea, Russian submarines have triggered U.S. alarms as they approach undersea cables. A Russian warship was also sighted in waters off the U.S. East Coast, and this week, a Russian reconnaissance planes in the Pacific was flying too close to the USS Ronald Reagan — a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super aircraft carrier in the service of the United States Navy.

CNN military analyst Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling suggests that Vladimir Putin is trying to build a “new Soviet Union,” a Cold War reference to Russia, by intervening in nearby countries and countries farther away.

According to Lt. Gen. Hertling, Putin is taking an offensive military stance.

“I think what we’re seeing right now is an attempt by Mr. Putin to go from the strategic defensive to the strategic offense, not only in Ukraine, not only in Syria, but other places like Moldova, threatening Poland, threatening the Baltic.”

Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter stated that Russia is “a serious challenge” and said its “aggressions” are “a new reality for us.”

Mr. Carter accused Russia of undermining the sovereignty of neighboring countries and destabilizing European security by Russia’s military involvement in Crimea and Syria.

In addition to Ashton Carter and Lt. Gen. Hertling’s view of Russia, U.S. officials have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government of using its military to support Syrian ally and President Bashar al-Assad and targeting anti-regime rebels.

On one hand, perhaps Russian President Vladimir Putin is simply being cautious and exercising realistic emergency preparation and prevention strategies by ordering the Russia’s Security Council to evaluate the country’s readiness to survive nuclear, biological, and chemical disasters. On the other hand, it’s quite possible there are other plans in the making.

Iranian Nuclear Equipment In Sudan

 

Wikileaks: Saudi officials suspect Iran shipped nuclear equipment to Sudan
By Denise Hassanzade Ajiri, Staff writer / June 24, 2015

Saudi diplomats believed Iran shipped advanced nuclear equipment including centrifuges to Sudan back in 2001, Wikileaks documents show.

In a document posted on Wikileaks, Saudi Arabia embassy in Sudanese capital Khartoum states that embassy sources say Iranian containers arrived “this week” at Khartoum airport containing “sensitive technical equipment in the form of fast centrifuges enriching Uranium.”

The short letter which is dated May 2001 and marked “top secret” adds that a second shipment is expected to arrive “this week.”

The document does not provide any name, or any evidence of the shipment. It does not also give out any details on how the equipment might have been shipped, or what Sudan planned to do with it.
Iran has been a major supplier of arms to Sudan. According to recent Wikileaks documents, Saudi Arabia reported anxiously on Iran’s military aid to Sudan, but there are no known reports of information about Iran sending nuclear equipment to Sudan, a country that has no known nuclear activities.

Neither Iran nor Saudi Arabia have reacted to the Wikileaks cable on Tehran’s alleged nuclear equipment shipment to Sudan.

Last week Wikileaks released more than 60,000 cables and documents which it says are Saudi foreign ministry papers. The website says it is planning to release half a million Saudi documents in total.
After the documents were released, Saudi Arabia warned its citizens not to distribute “documents that might be faked.”

Riyadh has previously expressed its concern over Iran’s nuclear program and repeatedly signaled its disagreement with the US efforts to seek a diplomatic solution on this matter.

According to previous Wikileaks documents, Riyadh repeatedly encouraged the US to “cut off the head of the snake” by launching military action against Iran and destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities.
On another note, in early June former officials of Israel and Saudi Arabia revealed that two countries have held several secret meetings on how to deal with Iran.

Iran and P5+1 group (China, Russia, France, Britain, and the United States plus Germany) are engaged in intense nuclear talks as the June 30 deadline for sealing a final nuclear deal approaches.
The negotiations have hit an impasse partly over the question of how much access the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors should have to Iranian military sites.

Iran and Western officials say they are willing to extend the deadline.