Iranian-Armenian relations

[Artsakh]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/29/wikileaks-armenia-sent-iran-arms-used-to-kill-us-t/

WikiLeaks: Armenia sent Iran arms used to kill U.S. troops
State expressed ‘deep concerns’

U.S. diplomats concluded in late 2008 that the government of Armenia had supplied Iran with rockets and machine guns later used to kill American troops in Iraq, according to State Department cables disclosed by WikiLeaks.

John D. Negroponte, deputy secretary of state at the time, wrote a December 2008 letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressing “deep concerns about Armenia’s transfer of arms to Iran which resulted in the death and injury of U.S. soldiers in Iraq.”

The cable, based on U.S. intelligence, includes the text of a classified letter labeled “secret” from Mr. Negroponte. It says “in 2007 some of these weapons were recovered from two Shia militant attacks in which a U.S. soldier was killed and six others were injured in Iraq.”

The disclosure of the re-export of arms by Armenia is one example of how the leaked archive of U.S. diplomatic traffic totaling more than 250,000 reports reveals an extensive U.S. government effort to stop allies and adversaries alike from arming Iran with even conventional weapons.

In Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday that the documents made public by WikiLeaks is part of a campaign by the CIA and the Israeli Mossad. While many cables showed heads of Arab states urging the United States to take military action against Iran, Mr. Ahmadinejad dismissed them as propaganda. “The countries in the region are like friends and brothers,” he said. “These acts of mischief will not affect their relations.”

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. answers questions about WikiLeaks at the Justice Department on Monday. He said the government had launched a criminal probe. (AP Photo)Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in Washington that the leaks will not affect U.S. relationships with allies. Yet she also said that the disclosures would endanger people in closed societies who had spoken with U.S. diplomats.

“There is nothing laudable about endangering innocent people, and there is nothing brave about sabotaging peaceful relations between nations on which our common security depends,” Mrs. Clinton said.

Mrs. Clinton said WikiLeaks acted illegally in posting the classified document and that the Obama administration is taking “aggressive steps to hold responsible those who stole this information.”

At the Justice Department, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said the government had launched a criminal probe, while Pentagon officials said security is being tightened to better control digital storage devices such as CDs and flash drives.

The Armenian incident was part of a wider U.S. effort to block Iran’s access to the global arms and weapons technology market. For example, a 2010 cable revealed covert U.S. efforts to persuade China's government to block a sale from a Malaysian firm, Electronics Component Ltd., to sell gyroscopes to an Iranian front company.

[retro]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

When the rest of the world talks about improving international communications, they are usually talking about the internet. Meanwhile, in the Caucasus, is seems that they are still obsessed with the mid-19th century information super highways: train lines.

Rightfully so as rail is still the cheapest and most energy efficient way to move freight. Their is talk of a intercontinental Pan-Eurasian Maglev. However it will have to wait until the global debt crisis is somehow resolved.

Stephenson's Rocket (1829).

[Persopolis]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

...in the Caucasus, is seems that they are still obsessed with the mid-19th century information super highways: train lines.

Trains are a lot of fun -- Armenians want to be able to take trains so they can scubadive at Kish Island in the Persian Gulf and use its free trade zone status to become millionaires while using Iranian ports for exporting goods. A train line that let's Armenians and their goods travel to Kish is a lot better than looking at pictures of Kish on the internet: Do you know how many Armenian millionaires Iran has made over the centuries? A lot. Do you know how many prominent Armenians are of Iranian origin? A lot. Armenia is likely getting sick of being boxed in by genocidal maniacs on its west and east; I'm sure they appreciate the train link to the Persian Gulf.

Kish Island was ranked among the world's 10 most beautiful islands by The New York Times in 2010. Due to its free trade zone status it is touted as a consumer's paradise, with numerous malls, shopping centres, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. It has an estimated population of 20,000 residents and about 1 million people visit the island annually

...finally, with all the projects underway between iran armenian, pipelines, railways, how stupid is this azer author????

Exactly - Iran and Armenia have recently started hundreds of millions of dollars of projects together - the Iranian defense minister was in Armenia last week. Can you imagine scrapping all of that work in one week? The suggestion in the news story is just silly. Somewhere buried in all of these posts - I put several ideas for strengthening Iran/Armenia ties further -- alas, now they're needles in the haystack.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

When the rest of the world talks about improving international communications, they are usually talking about the internet. Meanwhile, in the Caucasus, is seems that they are still obsessed with the mid-19th century information super highways: train lines.

Once the railway is complete and azerbaijan's Trevithicks engine is up and running then we'll see whos living in the past my friend.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

Well the railway goes from Turkey to Nakhichevan and stops there (the plan for now) so any talk of Iran joining has no concrete foundation and all talk of it, especially that it's coming from Azerbaijan, can be seen as an attempt to sabotage Armenian-Iranian relations. Besides, Armenia and Iran are building their own railway.

When the rest of the world talks about improving international communications, they are usually talking about the internet. Meanwhile, in the Caucasus, is seems that they are still obsessed with the mid-19th century information super highways: train lines.

[Federate]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

It would be anti-Armenian if they helped in this project, which isolates Armenia more, and strengths Azerbaijan.

There's no reason to speculate Iran is going to join this project. The article brings forward absolutely nothing which states that this is a possibility, just claims without any official statement that Iran could join. The project is about trying to save Nakhichevan from extinction anyway which in my opinion is too far gone already. Lots of speculation that Nakhichevan's true population is under 150 000 (rather than the official 300 000+).

[Mos]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

You hope iran doesn't go through with what? what does the article even say? i didn't understand what anti-armenian activity iran was engaged in, did someone ssee something i didn't?

it was reported on news.am, but it was citing the azeri source.

finally, with all the projects underway between iran armenian, pipelines, railways, how stupid is this azer author????

It would be anti-Armenian if they helped in this project, which isolates Armenia more, and strengths Azerbaijan.

[Federate]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

Well the railway goes from Turkey to Nakhichevan and stops there (the plan for now) so any talk of Iran joining has no concrete foundation and all talk of it, especially that it's coming from Azerbaijan, can be seen as an attempt to sabotage Armenian-Iranian relations. Besides, Armenia and Iran are building their own railway.

[Artsakh]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

Well it was reported on news.am. I hope Iran doesn't go through with it, but I guess we will have to see.

You hope iran doesn't go through with what? what does the article even say? i didn't understand what anti-armenian activity iran was engaged in, did someone ssee something i didn't?

it was reported on news.am, but it was citing the azeri source.

finally, with all the projects underway between iran armenian, pipelines, railways, how stupid is this azer author????

[Mos]

Re: Iranian-Armenian relations

its BS, Iran wouldnt back stab Armenia like this. On the contrary they have come out wanting to expand relations with Armenia, not isolate Armenia. Also its coming from 1news.az which we know reports the truth.

Well it was reported on news.am. I hope Iran doesn't go through with it, but I guess we will have to see.