Israel Matzav

Obama lifts sanctions against 3 Russian entities who sold nuke parts to Iran

On Friday, President Obumbler lifted US sanctions against three Russian entities that were involved in the sale to Iran of parts for nuclear weapons (Hat Tip: Will). Obama also lifted sanctions against a Russian firm that sold anti-tank missiles to Syria.

The United States on Friday lifted sanctions against three Russian entities implicated in efforts to aid Iran's nuclear weapons or missile programs.

The decision, which was published in the Federal Register, comes days after President Barack Obama's administration announced it had obtained support from Russia for imposing new UN Security Council sanctions against Iran.

It was not immediately clear if the lifting of the sanctions was related to winning Russian support for the new draft sanctions resolution, as no State Department officials were immediately available to comment.

Sanctions that were imposed on Rosoboronexport, the Russian state arms exporter, in October 2008 were removed.

...

Sanctions were also lifted against Moscow Aviation Institute, which was sanctioned in 1999 for what the Washington Post said was aiding Iran's development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

The Obama administration also lifted sanctions against D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, which was sanctioned in 1999 for what the Post said was aiding Iran's missile program.

For both these entities, the Register said, "it is in the foreign policy or national security interests of the United States" to remove the sanctions imposed under Executive Order 12938 of November 14, 1994.

Those last two date back to the Clinton administration, but hey - why bother to differentiate. Democrats, Republicans, who cares?

And restrictions were also removed from the Tula Instrument Design Bureau, which was also sanctioned in 1999 for, the Post said, supplying anti-tank equipment to Syria.

The Post also reported that since January, the Obama administration has also lifted sanctions against two other Russian firms -- Glavkosmos and Baltic State Technical University -- for their dealings with Iran.

So the Russians agree to weak new sanctions and in return the US lifts some sanctions against Russian firms.

What could go wrong?

More in the Washington Post here (Hat Tip: Republican Jewish Coalition via Twitter).

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:08 AM