Iran Controversy Shouldn’t Hurt Arms Negotiations, Soviets Assert

Viktor P. Karpov, the Soviet Union’s chief arms control negotiator, said Wednesday that the controversy over White House dealings with Iran should not be allowed to interfere with efforts to reach an accord on nuclear arms reduction.

At the same time, Karpov said Moscow is prepared to begin detailed discussions with the United States to define what research on space-based defensive weapons would be acceptable within an overall package of nuclear arms control.

Asked in a news conference how the Iran arms controversy and the resignation of President Reagan’s national security adviser might affect U.S.-Soviet talks, Karpov replied that “the crisis should not affect negatively the process of negotiation on nuclear and strategic arms.”

‘Extraneous’ Event

In the first official Soviet comment on the affair, Karpov dismissed the uproar in the United States as an event of far less importance than arms control negotiations.

“Issues such as the anti-ballistic missile treaty and preventing an arms race in space are so enormous,” Karpov said. “They should not be burdened by other extraneous circumstances.”

His instructions, Karpov added, are to reach an agreement with the United States on nuclear and space weaponry, “and the sooner the better.”

Karpov’s remarks were consistent with a relatively restrained stance that Moscow has taken since the controversy ignited over the National Security Council staff’s secret shipment of arms to Iran in the hope of bettering U.S.-Iranian relations and freeing hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.

Some West European diplomats noted that the White House appeared to have taken a lesson from the Soviet Union’s clandestine ways and said the Kremlin is probably amused at the American habit of “self-flagellation” when such secrets are exposed.

Several leading Soviet newspapers carried articles on the controversy, portraying the arms-and-hostages deal as evidence of Washington’s alleged determination to undermine Arab unity, ingratiate itself with Iran and re-establish a military presence there.

The state-run Soviet press gave only brief notice Wednesday to the resignation of national security adviser John M. Poindexter, but several leading newspapers carried articles on the controversy, based on reports in the American press, which seemed intended mainly to score propaganda points off the Administration’s distress.

Written in the style of spy novels, the reports offered few concrete details but played up the cloak-and-dagger machinations of American officials as evidence of Washington’s alleged determination to undermine Arab unity, ingratiate itself with Iran and reestablish a military presence there.