Russia, China Rip Into War Plans Against Iran

Following the insane statements issued by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, threatening war against Iran, and an ongoing drumbeat for war on Iran, especially in the British press, strong statements of protest have come from Russia and China. As reported by AFP and Russian wires today, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov lodged his protest in an interview with Vremya Novosti.

"Generally speaking, bombings of Iran would be a bad move that would end with catastrophic consequences," he said. He went on to say that he hoped the bombs would not begin to fall before the end of a summit of Caspian Sea countries slated for Oct. 26 in Tehran, in which Russia is participating: "I don't know if the Americans will bomb during the Caspian summit. I think they will refrain, otherwise they would have serious problems." This was in answer to a question. "We are convinced that there is no military solution to the Iranian problem. It's impossible. Besides, it is quite clear that there is no military solution to the Iraq problem either. But in the case of Iran, everything could be even more complicated," he said.

If the situation were to worsen, he said that Russian experts working at the nuclear plant in Bushehr could be evacuated. "As the situation in Iran is difficult, we have plans to evacuate our experts. They are drawn up and could be used," the deputy minister said, adding that he hoped this would not be the case. The use of force, he continued, would only "worsen the situation in the Middle East," and "bring a very negative reaction from the Muslim world. Of course I cannot know what is being thought in the United States," but their military intervention in Iran "would be a big diplomatic and political error," Losyukov said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also spoke out against any military aggression, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the diplomatic course should be pursued. As reported by ITAR-TASS, Lavrov said today that Moscow was alarmed by reports of possible military action. "The multiplying reports [that] some contemplate the introduction of military sanctions against Iran cause Russia's alarm. It is hard to imagine what this can be fraught with for the region," Lavrov said, significantly following his talks in Moscow with Kouchner. Lavrov said, "The International Atomic Energy Agency is satisfied with Iran's progress in lifting problem issues related to its nuclear program. Russia remains committed to the agreement the UN Security Council will not go beyond the bounds of supporting the IAEA." He went on to say that "not a single problem has a military solution, and the same applies to Iran's nuclear program." He stated, "The talks must be continued, and for this contacts should be resumed at the Solana-Larijani level," referring to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Tehran's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

Regarding renewed talk of sanctions, Lavrov said: "Once we have agreed to take collective action and this agreement materializes as consensus work within the UN Security Council, what aim does the introduction of unilateral sanctions pursue then? We should never forget that part of the agreement within the framework of the group of six international mediators that provides for wider dialogue with Iran, including that on issues of regional security."

IRNA featured the statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao the same day, criticizing Kouchner's views. Liu told the press: "We should avoid threatening others with military actions" and "We are opposed to military actions in dealing with international affairs." Liu added, "We believe that negotiations would be the best option meeting the interests of international community."