Medvedev, Obama May Talk on Arms Treaty, Russian Official Says

Medvedev and Obama

Medvedev and Obama may attempt to close the gap on the “Re-START” treaty over the phone in a few days. Sources say that the phone call may be decisive in finalizing terms for the replacement to the START treaty that expired in Dec. 2009. The primary disagreement between the two sides has been the recent missile defense developments in Eastern Europe.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama may try to bridge differences delaying completion of a nuclear-arms reduction treaty in a phone call in a few days, a top Russian lawmaker said.

Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the international affairs committee in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, told a forum in the Washington area yesterday that the conversation may be “decisive” in resolving the issues.

“The Russian side is a bit more pessimistic and they believe the disagreement is quite serious and we will need to have much higher flexibility from the American side,” Kosachyov told an audience at the Rand Corp. policy-research group in Arlington, Virginia.

U.S. Will Use Banks to Thwart Iran Nukes

The Administration will be tightening the restrictions around Iranian banks in favor of an aerial bombing campaign against Iranian Nuclear facilities. A White House staffer was quoted as saying “even as we move toward the pressure track, the door to engagement is still open.” It would seem this move is intended to drive Tehran back to negotiations about restricting its nuclear development.

The Obama administration, having failed in its first year to reach an entente with Iran, will toughen U.S. policy by applying unprecedented pressures on that regime as it continues its quest to become a nuclear power.

Nonetheless, President Obama for now is ruling out an aerial bombing campaign against Iranian nuclear facilities and is choosing instead to further isolate Iran from the international financial system.

The first target likely will be Iran’s banks. Building on steps taken during the second term of the George W. Bush presidency, the Treasury Department likely will designate Iran’s central bank as a terrorist-supporting entity.