MOSCOW, — A top Kremlin official Wednesday dismissed Iranian criticism as “political demagogy”, saying Russia’s position on Iran’s nuclear program was neither pro-American nor pro-Iranian.
Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko was responding to criticism of Russia the same day by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Iranian president told local TV that it was “unacceptable” for Russia to support U.S.-proposed U.N. sanctions against Tehran. Ahmadinejad said that, if Russia voted for the sanctions, it would support those who have been demonstrating their animosity toward Iran during the past 30 years.
Prikhodko urged “those who speak on behalf of the friendly Iranian people” not to try to save face by using “political demagogy.”
“Russia invariably follows its own long-term state interests. Our position is Russian, that is, it reflects the interests of all people of Russia, so it can be neither pro-American nor pro-Iranian,” said Prikhodko as quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Russia cannot accept “any non-predictability, any political extremism, non-transparency, non-coherency in decision-making that concerns the international community,” he said.
