Clinton woos Russians to join Iran sanctions (+analysis); US has already sent more troops to Afghanistan; China and Russia agree gas and oil deals; North Korea may test more missiles; and more

Top of the Agenda: Clinton Meets With Russia on Iran

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Russia's president and foreign minister on Tuesday to discuss its willingness to help pressure Iran to halt its nuclear program. Clinton is seeking a more united international front on sanctions against Iran if international negotiations fail. The BBC reports that although Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has traditionally opposed tougher sanctions on Iran, he has indicated that further sanctions might be inevitable after learning that Tehran had a second uranium enrichment plant in Qom. If Russia and China reject new sanctions on Iran, the report says a coalition of countries--including the EU--may act together to halt oil sales to Iran.

Clinton is also expected to discuss with the Russian leaders (Reuters) issues related to Afghanistan, a new nuclear arms reduction treaty, human rights, and Russia's treatment of Georgia following a five-day war with the country last year. She will not meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is in China discussing trade, during her visit.

Analysis

Moscow Carnegie Center analyst, Maria Lipman, says in the Wall Street Journal that there is "no certainty" that Russia would agree to tighter sanctions against Iran and that the Russian government looks increasingly less willing to endorse new sanctions.

Reuters reports that the United States is hoping President Obama's decision to halt plans for an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe will induce more cooperation from Russia on Afghanistan, missile defense, and a nuclear reduction treaty.

Background

CFR's James M. Goldgeier outlines why improving U.S.-Russian relations has been so difficult since the Cold War.

A CFR backgrounder looks at the lengthening list of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

 

PACIFIC RIM: Korean Border Talks

North Korea agreed to hold talks (New York Times) with South Korea on Wednesday to discuss flood controls, despite reports that North Korea may test more missiles after the five short-range missiles it launched on Monday.

 

ELSEWHERE:

US quietly increased support troops to Afghanistan by 13,000
China and Russia agree to $3.5 billion in gas and trade deals

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org