Professor: Russia scared to death of nuclear Iran, By Yaakov Lappin; Ynet News 10.24.06B

Expert on Soviet Union, modern Russia at Hebrew University says former Russian PM vowed Iran would never go nuclear

Russia is “scared to death of a nuclear Iran,” and would “never allow Iran to go nuclear,” former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov said, according to Professor Amnon Sella, an expert on the Soviet Union and modern Russia at the Hebrew University.

Expanding Nuclear Enrichment

Sella was speaking at a forum held by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) in Jerusalem Monday night, aimed at examining Russia’s role in the Middle East.

Speaking to Ynetnews, Sella said Primakov made the comments two months ago.

Primakov, currently a senior advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is reported to have told Sella that Russia “would not allow a tear in relations with the United States (over the Iranian nuclear program).” According to Sella, Primakov said Russia was “playing a game of brinkmanship with the US,” but would never actually allow the Islamic Republic to obtain nuclear weapons.

“I am sure he knew that I would not keep these comments a secret,” Sella told the forum.

Sella added that Pakistan, rather than Russia, supplied Iran with nuclear technology, although the professor noted that Russia invested USD 20 million in Iran’s nuclear core infrastructure.

Professor Yehushua Porath, also of the Hebrew University, said the comments were probably made to “calm the Jews, so that we won’t be against the Russians too much.”

Addressing the Iranian threat, Porath said “we have a problem with a Nazi-like ideology calling for the destruction of Israel and the murder of its citizens, as well as Jews outside of it. That is obvious. Maybe we need to act, but there’s no need to talk about it.”

Porath said Iran “may be willing to sacrifice 20 million Iranians” in an attempt to attack Israel.