Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/12/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAN / RUSSIA (L-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-273607

BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///// ED'S: UPDATES 2-273582 WITH NEW INFORMATION /////

INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin says his government will resume selling weapons to Iran and continue to assist Iran in developing nuclear energy. The Russian leader made the announcement after meeting with Iranian President Muhammad Khatami in the Kremlin. Bill Gasperini has details from Moscow.

TEXT: President Putin says Russia has both economic and political reasons to sell weapons to Iran, and that this would not violate any international agreements.

As part of a broad cooperation agreement, Mr. Putin also says Russia will honor its contract to finish the construction of a nuclear power plant on the Persian Gulf coast of Iran.

The United States has sharply criticized Russia on both issues, saying Moscow is not abiding by commitments to halt the proliferation of nuclear and military technology.

But Mr. Putin dismissed this criticism, saying Iran has every right to, in his words - ensure its security with weapons that would not threaten anyone.

/// ACT PUTIN, FADE UNDER ///

President Putin says the Iranians have placed orders with Russian arms producers, which are purely defensive in character. He says Iran is not ordering any weapons that are not permitted by international guidelines that Russia must obey. The Russian Federation - says Mr. Putin -is not going to violate its international obligations.

Mr. Putin did not specify exactly what kinds of weapons Iran is planning to purchase.

But Russian defense officials say Iran has said it would like to acquire tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, and air defense missiles. Some officials have said sales could be in the billions of dollars.

Last November, Russia backed out of a 1995 agreement to halt such arms sales, a move that angered the United States.

Mr. Putin has also rejected U-S demands that Russia cancel the 800-million-dollar contract to finish the nuclear power plant known at Bushehr.

Aware of this criticism, President Khatami said the agreements made with Moscow should be of no threat to anyone.

/// ACT KHATAMI, FADE UNDER ///

These relations are not aimed against any country - says President Khatami. Rather they are to help bring stability in the region we are living in.

Although neither leader mentioned the United States by name, their actions appeared to be part of Mr. Putin's strategy of offsetting what Russia sees as U-S dominance in the world.

/// OPT /// In another move likely to irritate the West, the two leaders signed an agreement to oppose a Western-backed plan to lay a new oil pipeline under the Caspian Sea, which would bypass both of their countries in favor of Turkey. /// END OPT /// (SIGNED)

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