Moscow urges Iran to respond to IAEA concerns
February 27th, 2012 - 6:33 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Feb 27 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia wants Iran to answer all existing questions from the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its controversial nuclear programme.
Russia believes such a move will confirm its right to peaceful atomic energy generation, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
“It is very important that everybody confirms firmly and without any reservations that if Iran takes all existing issues of concern for the IAEA off the table, it will have all the rights that nuclear-free member states of the non-proliferation treaty have, including the right to enrich uranium to produce fuel,” Lavrov said.
Russia wants to be “sure” that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme has a “purely peaceful dimension,” he added.
Tensions over Iranian nuclear activities have risen to boiling point over the past few weeks since Tehran announced mid-January that it had begun enriching uranium in the heavily fortified Fordow mountain bunker.
Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway along its coastline through which one-fifth of the world’s oil flows, as Western powers increased pressure on the Islamic Republic.
The European Union has banned Iranian oil imports starting from July and the US is introducing new sanctions against Tehran.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
sd/dg
- EU accepts Iran talks offer - Mar 06, 2012
- Russia warns against unilateral sanctions on Iran - Jun 14, 2012
- Iran's n-plant to reach full capacity in February - Jan 08, 2012
- Russia seeks compromise on Iran sanctions - Mar 06, 2012
- Russia supports Iran's peaceful n-programme: Putin - Jun 07, 2012
- Iran enriches 100 kg of Uranium to 20 percent (Lead) - Feb 20, 2012
- Iranian leader threatens to increase uranium enrichment - Jul 23, 2012
- IAEA inspectors barred from Iranian military site (Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- European parliament urges Russia, China to back Iran sanctions - Feb 03, 2012
- 'EU sanctions on Iran may push oil prices to $150' - Jan 30, 2012
- IAEA to meet Iran over access to n-site - Jun 04, 2012
- US condemns Iran's decision to start uranium enrichment - Jan 11, 2012
- Iran can produce four atom bombs: Israel - Feb 03, 2012
- Iran starts enriching uranium to 20 percent - Jan 10, 2012
- Iran denies Greece 500,000 barrels of oil - Feb 26, 2012
Tags: atomic energy agency, boiling point, dg, energy generation, foreign minister, free member, international atomic energy, international atomic energy agency, international atomic energy agency iaea, iranian oil, member states, non proliferation treaty, nuclear activities, oil imports, one fifth, ria novosti russia, sergei lavrov, tehran, watchdog, waterway