political news

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Iran is "moving closer" to having the potential to create nuclear weapons.

It is one of the first times Moscow has publicly recognised that Iran might be moving towards a nuclear weapon.

Russia, which has strong economic and military ties with Iran, has traditionally been an ally of Tehran.

But it has recently adopted a tougher stance towards Tehran's nuclear drive, and backed the fourth round of UN sanctions that was imposed last month.

"Iran is moving closer to possessing the potential which in principle could be used for the creation of nuclear weapons," Mr Medvedev told a meeting of ambassadors in Moscow.

The US and major European Union powers suspect that Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

On 10 June, the UN Security Council endorsed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran, including tighter financial curbs and an expanded arms embargo.

Since then, the US and EU have unilaterally imposed additional sanctions, including a ban on investment in Iran's oil and gas industry, as well as trade with key banks and individuals.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed the vote and rejected calls to halt uranium enrichment - which could have military as well as civilian uses.

The Wall Street Journal said Israel's ability to strike Iranian nuclear facilities could be hampered.

The system would also boost Syria's defences and could benefit Lebanese militant group Hezbollah if Syria shared information, the report said.

Syria and Iran have denied that the radar transfer took place.

An unnamed Israeli military official has told the Reuters news agency that Syria, Israel's northern neighbour, has received a radar system from Iran, but declined to give further details.

Four unnamed US and Israeli officials told the Wall Street Journal that the radar system had been transferred to Syria in mid-2009.

They said it was part of the growing alliance between Iran, Syria and Hezbollah that aimed to undermine Israel's military dominance in the region.

In April, tensions between the US and Syria worsened after Israeli allegations that Syria had transferred long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah, the Lebanese guerrilla movement and political party. Syria denies the claims.

Hezbollah fought a 34-day conflict with Israel in 2006 during which more than 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis died.

A year later, Israeli fighter jets bombed a Syrian site that the Israelis said housed a nuclear reactor in the final stages of construction. Syria said it was a defunct military facility.

Tensions in the region are high after Iran vowed to continue its uranium enrichment activities despite a fourth round of sanctions imposed last month by the UN over claims that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.

Under earlier UN sanctions imposed in 2007, Iran is banned from selling or supplying weapons to other countries.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.