| At a time when the United States and its allies are trying to persuade Iran to end its illicit nuclear program, Russia-one of five countries with U.N. Security Council veto power-is reportedly set to hold its first joint naval maneuver with Iran in the Caspian Sea, The Jerusalem Post reported. Thirty Russian and Iranian ships as well as several helicopters will take part in the exercise. The Obama administration has urged Russian leaders to join its efforts to pressure Tehran to halt its nuclear work and has pressed the Kremlin to halt the sale of sophisticated weaponry and military technology to Iran. In recent years, Moscow has partnered with Iran to develop the country’s nuclear program and has stonewalled efforts at the U.N. Security Council to impose biting sanctions against Tehran for its uranium enrichment activity. |
