Amid differences, U.S. and Russia agree on Iran

Vice President Cheney delivered a clear message to Iran.
WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON -- The United States and Russia publicly closed ranks Tuesday over the need for Iran to ease international concerns over its nuclear program, but growing fissures in the U.S.-Russian relationship were apparent when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with reporters Tuesday after two days of meetings.
Though Lavrov said it was too early to discuss U.N. sanctions against Iran, Vice President Cheney had already issued a blunt threat that Iran will face "meaningful consequences" if it fails to cooperate with international efforts to curb its nuclear program. Cheney told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday that the United States "is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible conduct of the regime" and is sending "a clear message: We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
Concerns
Over dinner Monday, Rice and Lavrov had a long discussion on Iran and U.S. concerns about the downward democratic trends in Russia, U.S. officials said. After Rice mentioned the dialogue to reporters, Lavrov responded that Russia has its own concerns as well, noting that the United States is the "only country" refusing to sign off on Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization.
Russia has played a leading role in recent months to resolve the impasse with Iran, offering to establish a joint venture on Russian soil that would enrich uranium for use in Iranian reactors. Some U.S. officials were alarmed Monday that Russian officials appeared to be floating a plan that threatened to unravel the delicate diplomacy designed to bring the Iranian program to the U.N. Security Council for debate.
Tuesday, Lavrov flatly said that there is "no compromise, new Russian proposal."
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