Russia and US trade angry words over Iran at UN dinner

The American secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, traded barbs during bad-tempered talks at a foreign ministers' summit in New York on Iran's nuclear program.

The row, which further undermines hopes of a diplomatic solution to the Iran crisis, reflects deepening rifts between the United States and Russia.

Tension surfaced at a private meeting hosted by Ms. Rice in the Waldorf Hotel for the Russian, British, French, German and Chinese foreign ministers, and split over into a much-delayed dinner.

Mr. Lavrov arrived at the Waldorf for the meeting seething about a speech on Kremlin policies delivered by Dick Cheney, the vice-president, the previous week in Lithuania. The Russian repeatedly complained about the comments and then threatened to veto a Security Council resolution, drafted by Britain and France and backed by the U.S. that would force Iran to abandon enrichment of uranium.

Although Moscow has made clear that it opposes any use of mandatory powers the other ministers were left in no doubt that Mr. Lavrov's approach reflected fury over the Cheney speech. As the mood worsened, Mr. Lavrov accused the Americans of seeking to undermine efforts by Britain, France and Germany to solve the crisis.

Iranfocus.com 5/14/06