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Moscow praises latest IAEA resolution on Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Moscow, Dec 4, Ria-Novosti/ACSNA/IRNA -- Senior Russian diplomats and 
nuclear experts have welcomed the very mild resolution on Iranian 
nuclear programs adopted by International Atomic Energy Agency`s Board
of Governors. 
A positive solution of the problem is more than a matter of 
prestige for Russia, even though Moscow mediated Tehran`s talks with 
the EU Troika. Russian diplomats interacted closely with both parties 
in a bid to `defuse the situation this way`, as Russian Foreign 
Minister Sergei Lavrov put it. 
An analysis by Pyotr Goncharov carried by the Russian news agency 
Ria-Novosti quoted Lavrov as stressing that the most important aspect 
of the `consensus` resolution is that it leaves the Iranian issue 
within the framework of the IAEA. 
The resolution no longer features a provision to the effect that 
the Iranian nuclear file could be turned over to the UN Security 
Council for examination if Iran failed to honor its commitments. Iran 
will undoubtedly profit from some other provisions in the document. 
In particular, the resolution expressly states that Iran is not 
striving to develop nuclear weapons by developing its own civilian 
nuclear programs. One can safely say that this is a diplomatic victory
for Tehran, Gennady Yevstafyev, a Russian expert on nuclear 
non-proliferation issues, believes. 
The resolution praises Tehran`s decision to suspend 
uranium-enrichment operations `as a voluntary confidence building 
measure`, which is another victory for Iran, the expert noted. 
Tehran maintained this position from the start of negotiations 
with the IAEA and then the EU Troika. Iran has de facto reserved the 
right to develop its nuclear fuel production program under the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. 
And, finally, Russia has its own interests to consider in solving 
this problem. Tensions have now been defused around Iran`s nuclear 
programs, thereby facilitating more intensive Russian-Iranian nuclear 
cooperation. 
Russia`s Federal Nuclear Energy Agency (Rosatom) believes that 
Moscow and Tehran can soon conclude an agreement on building a second 
power unit at the nuclear power plant in Bushehr. 
This document might be signed December 15-16, when Moscow hosts a 
session of the Russian-Iranian commission for trade and economic 
relations, Rosatom spokesman Nikolai Shingarev noted. 
This commission is co-chaired by Rosatom head Alexander 
Rumyantsev. 
The IAEA resolution on Iran gives one ample reason to believe that
most Agency members are confident that Iran will not violate the 
nuclear non-proliferation regime. However, one country cannot agree 
with this: the United States. It seems that Washington will maintain 
this position in the foreseeable future. 
The US called on the IAEA to be vigilant, making it clear that it 
might unilaterally propose sanctions against Iran. 
So, will the US try to exacerbate the situation around Iran? Firm 
support from Russia, China and the EU has so far prevented the Iranian
nuclear file from being sent to the Security Council, so the US is 
unlikely to take any unilateral steps. 
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