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Friday December 8, 2000

Russia ends pact not to arm Iran; fear looms for Israel

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Russia's decision to terminate its agreement with the United States on stopping Russian arms sales to Iran p
Last Friday, Moscow pulled out of a pact sealed in 1995 by then-Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Vice President Al Gore un

"We remain committed to constraining arms sales that pose a threat to regional stability and to the national security interests of the United States, our friends, our allies in the region," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday. He added that the United States is not aware of any new Russian arms contracts with Iran, but wants the delegation to have a "frank and comprehensive discussion" with Russian officials about Moscow's future intentions.

Russian involvement in Iranian weapons programs remains a major concern, said Barry Jacobs, the American Jewish Committee's director of strategic studies. He voiced disappointment that the formal agreement was allowed to lapse, but said the Gore-Chernomyrdin deal was not very effective. "Russian assistance never stopped," Jacobs said, and Iran remains a primary threat to Israel.

In testimony at an Oct. 5 Senate hearing on the transfer of Russian technology and strategic weapons capabilities to Iran, the AJCommittee called for U.S. restrictions on Iranian technology proliferation, and accused Iran of continuing to smuggle and develop weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems that could reach Israel.

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