Canada’s move on Iran could complicate relations with Russia
By Matthew Fisher, Montreal Gazette, September 7, 2012

LADIVOSTOK, Russia — Having denounced Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and severing all diplomatic ties with the oil-rich Gulf nation on Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper may get a frosty reception from Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet privately Saturday at a summit of Pacific Rim leaders.

Russia has maintained good relations with Iran and with its close ally, Syria. The stance has seriously complicated its relations with the West.

Canada made the move against Iran now because it feared for the lives of the “skeleton staff” of diplomats it still had in Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Friday.

“Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians and their safety is my number one priority,” the minister said. “They don’t sign up to be put in harm’s way…

In what may be a prelude to talks between Harper and Putin, Baird strongly denounced Iran at a meeting Friday with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Baird told journalists that he had informed Lavrov “in no uncertain terms” why Canada had pulled its diplomats out of Tehran and gave Iranian diplomats in Ottawa five days to comply with an expulsion order.

“There are a lot of reasons why” Canada has moved against Iran now, Baird said before describing the action as a “made-in-Canada decision.” [....]