Medvedev bans Iranian officials from entering Russia

Dmitri Medvedev

Dmitry Medvedev has barred a number of Iranian officials from entering Russia or passing through it in transit.

Ria Novosti news agency reports that the Kremlin website published Medvedev’s most recent orders on Wednesday barring a number of Iranian “scientists and officials” from entering or passing through Russia.

The report indicates the order of ban includes names of Abbas Rezai Ashtiani, senior official in geology and mining exploration branch of Iran’s Atomic Agency; Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Education and Research Institute for Defence Industry, and Brigadier General Mohammadreza Nagadi, Commander of Basij paramilitary forces and former Deputy Chief of Joint Headquarters of the Iranian Army.

Ria Novosti writes: “UN Security Council has decided that Mohammadreza Nagadi participated in circumventing the 2006 and 2007 UN resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran.”

The report indicates that the Russian list corresponds to the individuals listed in the UN resolution of 2007.

According to the US resolution all assets and economic resources of these individuals in countries who have supported the resolution will be confiscated.

Dmitry Medvedev’s order comes a day after Nicolay Makarov, Russian Chief of Armed Forces announced that they will not deliver the S300 rocket system to Iran in accordance with the UN sanctions on Iran.

The UN passed its latest resolution to impose sanctions on Iran in June 2010 in recognition of concern over Iran’s nuclear activities.