Based on media reports from October 30, 2008.

IRAN

Based on media reports from October 30, 2008.

1.    Russia and Iran will be developing both bilateral and multilateral projects, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a meeting with Iranian First Vice President Parviz Davoodi. Azerbaijan may participate in the development of transportation infrastructure, while Qatar can contribute to the energy sector project. "We have a large number of promising projects in bilateral as well as multilateral formats," Putin said. He noted that trade between the two countries has reached $3.5 billion and is diversified in many spheres, especially in the energy, transportation and communication sectors. In turn, Davoodi declared that Russian-Iranian cooperation is in with interests of all the states in the region. "On our part, we would like to stress that the world needs and hopes for a strong Russia," stated Iran's Vice President.

2.    Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak criticized Russia, China and India for continued cooperation with Tehran."The Iranians are determined to develop nuclear power, and we believe it is delusional to think otherwise. Iran's plan jeopardizes both regional stability and that of the entire world," Barak said at a meeting with European Union ambassadors. "So long as Russia, China and India do not join the nations imposing sanctions on Iran, it will have allies to do business with," the Defense Minister said.

Barak also stressed that time is working against the international community and that the longer it takes to pass a new package of sanctions the less likely such sanctions are to be successful. Barak was confident that it is still possible through diplomacy and economic measures to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but he restated that Israel is considering all of its options, including the use of military force.