Putin shows support for Iran, within limits

TEHRAN, Iran — Russian President Vladimir Putin, appearing side by side with his Iranian counterpart at a five-nation summit Tuesday, made a powerful show of support for America’s regional arch-enemy, drawing the line against any attack on Iran and reaffirming Iran’s right to civilian nuclear use.

At the same time, Putin stopped short of unconditional support of the Iranian regime, although the tenor of his remarks appeared at odds with earlier suggestions from the Bush administration that Putin might take a more pro-Western stance.

Despite continuing threats from the West against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Putin told reporters that Tehran had the right to continued civilian nuclear enrichment.

“Russia is the only country that has assisted Iran in implementing its peaceful nuclear program,” Putin said. “We believe all countries have the right to a peaceful nuclear energy program.”

The Russian president also warned the other Caspian Sea nations present not to allow their countries to be used for military assaults against Iran, a clear message to the U.S., which has refused to rule out an attack to halt or slow the Iranian nuclear program it believes is ultimately aimed at building nuclear weapons.

But while he condemned any possible U.S. attack, Putin did not vow to stand up for Iran in case of one.

The U.S. maintains strong military ties with the Caspian Sea nation of Azerbaijan, and has been wooing Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan for flyover privileges and intelligence sharing.

Senior U.S. officials earlier had expressed optimism that the Russian president would demonstrate greater public cooperation with American and Western European goals on Iran. The U.S. officials included Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who met with Putin in Moscow on Friday.

To the long-standing dismay of the U.S., Russia is also building a light-water nuclear power plant in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr and annually conducts $2 billion in trade with Iran.

Despite Putin’s rhetorical support, analysts say Moscow harbors misgivings about Iran. The Kremlin deplores Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s belligerent talk, including his questioning of the Holocaust and the country’s defiant tone on its nuclear program. It fears its association with Iran could damage its carefully cultivated relations with Israel and Europe, especially Germany.

Putin left Tehran without granting Iran any of the concessions it had hoped for, including a timetable for the completion of the Russian-built nuclear plant in Bushehr or a deal on divvying up Caspian Sea energy reserves.

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