Putin on landmark Iran visit despite ‘death plot’

TEHRAN – Russian President Vladimir Putin flew into Iran yesterday for the first visit by a Kremlin chief since World War II, defying reports a squad of suicide bombers planned to kill him.

Putin was attending a summit meeting of Caspian Sea states, amid heavy security on Tehran’s streets and secrecy over his travel arrangements. His sheer presence is of major significance for the Islamic republic at a time of mounting tension over its atomic drive and Putin will also meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.The Russian president spoke out against the use of force in the region in his address to the summit, saying it was imperative that Caspian Sea states are not used for attacks on fellow littoral countries.He said the final summit statement would include a clause on ‘the impossibility of providing the territory of one state for an act of aggression against another state’.”The Caspian Sea should unite us rather than divide us,” he added.Reports on Russian news agencies of an assassination threat had cast doubt over whether Putin would go ahead with the visit and his arrival was delayed from the scheduled touchdown on Monday evening.But much to the relief of Iranian officials, his plane finally landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport at around 05h30 GMT and Putin emerged into bright sunshine to be greeted by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing a source in the Russian special services, had reported on Sunday that a group of suicide bombers would try to kill Putin in Tehran.The Kremlin said Putin had been notified of the report.His exact travel plans were kept closely under wraps, with Kremlin officials refusing even to disclose what time he left Germany after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel for the five hour flight to Iran.Putin had insisted that he would press ahead with his visit, saying that talking directly to Iran’s leaders could help end the standoff over its nuclear programme.Nampa-AFPHis sheer presence is of major significance for the Islamic republic at a time of mounting tension over its atomic drive and Putin will also meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.The Russian president spoke out against the use of force in the region in his address to the summit, saying it was imperative that Caspian Sea states are not used for attacks on fellow littoral countries.He said the final summit statement would include a clause on ‘the impossibility of providing the territory of one state for an act of aggression against another state’.”The Caspian Sea should unite us rather than divide us,” he added.Reports on Russian news agencies of an assassination threat had cast doubt over whether Putin would go ahead with the visit and his arrival was delayed from the scheduled touchdown on Monday evening.But much to the relief of Iranian officials, his plane finally landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport at around 05h30 GMT and Putin emerged into bright sunshine to be greeted by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing a source in the Russian special services, had reported on Sunday that a group of suicide bombers would try to kill Putin in Tehran.The Kremlin said Putin had been notified of the report.His exact travel plans were kept closely under wraps, with Kremlin officials refusing even to disclose what time he left Germany after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel for the five hour flight to Iran.Putin had insisted that he would press ahead with his visit, saying that talking directly to Iran’s leaders could help end the standoff over its nuclear programme.Nampa-AFP