Putin’s Iran visit to go ahead despite assassination threat

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin insisted yesterday he would travel to Iran today despite reports about a possible assassination attempt, arguing direct contact and “peaceful means” were the only way to deal with the country’s nuclear program.

Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing a source in Russia’s security services, said that suicide terrorists had been trained to carry out the assassination in Iran. The Kremlin said Mr Putin was informed of the threat.

“Of course, I am going to Iran,” Mr Putin told reporters at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel following talks in Wiesbaden. “If I always listened to all the various threats and the recommendations of the special services I would never leave home.”