MDAA Alert: “No Way, No How”

Annoucement of New START Treaty

On April 8th, at the historic Prague Castle, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign an arms control treaty that reduces their strategic nuclear weapons and platforms to deliver those weapons. The treaty will then need to be ratified by both the U.S. Senate and the Russian Duma. The interpretation of the treaty’s language and intent in reference to linkage of U.S. missile defense will have considerable influence on the outcome of the Senate and Duma votes; of which 67 out of 100 U.S. Senators are required to ratify the treaty.

Iran Urges Russia to Resist Missile Sale Pressure

S-300 Anti-Aircraft System

Russia is under pressure to distance itself from Iran in a dispute over delivering the S-300 anti-aircraft system to the country.  Iran, yesterday, told Russia not to give in to the western pressure and continue with the sale of the S-300 to Iran.

Iran urged Russia on Tuesday not to bow to Western pressure over the sale of a Russian missile defense system to the Islamic Republic which could protect its nuclear facilities from air strikes.

A cleric in the Revolutionary Guards again warned Iran would hit back with missiles fired at “the heart of Tel Aviv” if it were attacked by its arch-foe Israel.

Sanctions Will Not Deter Nuclear Goals: Iran

Iran stated on Tuesday that it will not be intimated by the United Nations sanctions on their nuclear program.  Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said “Sanctions won’t have any impact on our activities.” Iran maintains that it can continue its nuclear program because it has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran reiterated on Tuesday that any new sanctions against Tehran by world powers will not halt the pursuit by the Islamic republic of its nuclear programme.

Russia Can Still Opt Out of U.S. Arms Treaty

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

After the recent signing of the START treaty between Russian president Medvedev and U.S. President Obama, Russia still has the ability to “opt out of the treaty if qualitative and quantitative parameters of the U.S. strategic missile defense begin to significantly affect the efficiency of Russian strategic nuclear forces,” according to Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Russia said Tuesday it reserves the right to withdraw from its new arms-control treaty with the U.S. if it decides the planned U.S. missile-defense shield threatens its security.

Russia will issue a statement outlining the terms for such a withdrawal after President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev sign the nuclear-arms reduction treaty Thursday in Prague, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. The new accord replaces the 1991 START treaty, which expired in December.