MOSCOW, April 30 (RIA Novosti) - An air strike against Iran will cause a huge wave of extremism in the Arab world, a former prime minister and the head of the Russian Chamber of Industry and Commerce said Sunday in an interview with an Israeli newspaper.
Iran broke a two-year moratorium on nuclear research in January for what it claimed were energy-generating purposes, arousing fears around the globe that the country could be secretly trying to create weapons-grade material.
"An air strike on Iran would no doubt lead to very serious consequences in the entire region," Yevgeny Primakov, on a visit to Israel on the invitation of the Israeli Association of Industrialists, told the Jerusalem Post.
"This could cause a huge wave of extremism in the Arab world and in this situation it would be very difficult for the current regimes in Arab countries to stay in power. That is why, Russia is full of resolve to take all possible diplomatic efforts to prevent this scenario and at the same time take steps so that Iran does not create nuclear weapons," said Primakov who is also a Middle East expert.
Primakov added that Russia was in no way interested in Iran possessing nuclear weapons.
According to Primakov, tough measures must not be applied against Iran because the Islamic Republic has not actually violated the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
"Today the problem is that despite some deviations Tehran is not violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and, therefore, tough measures must not be taken against Iran," Primakov said.
According to Primakov, it is early to discard Russia's offer to Iran to enrich uranium on Russian soil. This proposal could be adjusted and submitted for discussion at a summit of the G-8 group of industrialized nations to be chaired by Russia, he said.
"The idea is that countries, which need enriched uranium for peaceful purposes, should turn to nuclear club members, instead of producing enriched uranium themselves. Therefore, Iran and other nations would be able to receive enriched uranium. Iran could accept the proposal while saving its face," Primakov said.
