MOSCOW (Agencies)
Russia has signed into law United Nations economic sanctions that world powers agreed to in March, according to a presidential decree published by the Kremlin on Thursday.
The United Nations Security Council imposed a third round of sanctions on Iran on March 3 for refusing to suspend sensitive nuclear activities.
The Russian decree, signed by Vladimir Putin before he left office, calls for restrictions on travel and financial transactions with certain Iranian individuals and companies.
The United States and other Western nations suspect Iran of using its civil nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is needed to generate electricity so that it can export more of its oil and gas.
Russia has been building Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr on the Gulf coast, in southwest Iran. Iranian officials say it may start up later this year.
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PM Putin Also in Russia, new President Dmitry Medvedev said Putin will retain a "key role" in Russia as prime minister, as the two men opened an unprecedented era of dual rule.
Putin, 55, was confirmed as prime minister by 392 of the 448 deputies at an extraordinary session of the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, one day after Medvedev was inaugurated at a lavish Kremlin ceremony.
Putin's move to the premiership after eight years as president completed a carefully choreographed transition in which his trusted 42-year-old protege became president, while Putin moved into government.
The dual leadership is unprecedented in Russia, where overwhelming authority has traditionally rested with the Kremlin.
Putin remains popular among Russians who credit him with the country's economic revival on the back of massive energy exports and a newly assertive role on the world stage.
But while he vows to cooperate closely with Medvedev, both leaders have claimed major power for their respective new offices, leading some analysts to predict a potentially unstable partnership.
Many observers see the most likely outcome as a broad continuation of Putin's policies, but some believe Medvedev, a former corporate lawyer, could soften Putin's more hardline positions.
Medvedev is the youngest Kremlin leader for more than a century and, unlike Putin or most other members of Russia's ruling elite, he has no known past in the KGB or other security services.
Under the constitution, Medvedev has the right to fire his prime minister and dismiss the government at any time. Following reforms by Putin, parliament has been hugely weakened and provides little oversight.
However, now that Putin is starting a new career as prime minister and leader of the ruling United Russia party, that may change. With two thirds of votes in the legislature, United Russia can in theory change the constitution. |
