Putin's close ally fears Israel could push US into war with Iran

Israel Herald Thursday 12th January, 2012

MOSCOW - Russia fears Israel could push the United States into a military conflict with Iran, which has responded to plans of further sanctions by Western nations with threats to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz through which around 30 per cent of globally traded oil passes.

"There is a likelihood of military escalation of the conflict, towards which Israel is pushing the Americans," Nikolai Patrushev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and head of the Kremlin's Security Council, told Interfax news agency in an interview.

Patrushev, who served as Director of Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB from 1999 to 2008, believes "the Iranians will be able to carry out their threat to shut exports of Saudi oil through the Strait of Hormuz if faced with military actions against them."

In response to the Iranian threat the US this week moved a new aircraft carrier strike group to the Arabian Sea.

Tension over Iranian uranium enrichment, reported to being undertaken in an underground mountain bunker, has raised fears of military conflict and oil supply shock.

Patrushev said so far there is no proof that Iran is on the brink of creating nuclear weapons.

"Talk about Iran creating an atomic bomb by next week we have heard for many years," he said, adding that the US was trying to topple the Iran's leadership using "all available means" to make the country into "a loyal partner".

Just as the Bush administration's "democracy-building" rhetoric got Washington deeply involved in Iraq, Patrushev feels the US under President Barak Obama's leadership is looking to turn Iran into a "loyal partner."

"At the moment, the US views Iran as its main problem," he said. "They are seeking to turn Tehran, their enemy, into a loyal partner, and for that purpose to change the ruling regime there by any means."

Russia, China and India are among countries seeking to resolve the issue peacefully.

A major energy producer, Russia has opposed further UN Security Council sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme and has sharply criticised the US and European Union sanctions.

The result of these efforts has so far been insignificant because neither the US, nor Iran, seem very keen on it, albeit for various reasons," said Patrushev.

In remarks clearly aimed at signaling Russian foreign policy after presidential elections in March, the Security Council secretary said Putin would work well with President Obama if he is re-elected when the US votes later this year.

"In the case of Vladimir Putin and then Barack Obama coming to power, the Russian-U.S. relationship, as well as the situation in the world as a whole, may see a strengthening trend," said Patrushev.