Russia reaffirms need for diplomacy to settle Iran's nuclear row
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Feb 13, IRNA
Germany-Russia-Iran
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Tuesday reiterated that only international diplomatic efforts can resolve the impasse over Iran's nuclear program.
Speaking to the German Die Welt newspaper, Ivanov said: "We believe that the international community has to take the diplomatic way."
"Russia is cooperating closely with all members of the six-nation (5+1) group," he added.
Lavrov warned against military action against Iran, saying it would have "catastrophic consequences."
The Russian minister's comments followed earlier remarks by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, who said over the weekend in Munich that Tehran was ready to address the remaining concerns of western countries over its nuclear program.
"It is the political will of the government to have a negotiated settlement of this case...through constructive dialogue," Larijani said.
He stressed that Tehran had the right to peaceful nuclear technology and that his country's uranium enrichment activities were purely for research purposes.
"In Iran's national security doctrine there is no room for atomic and chemical weapons," added Larijani.
He stressed that "unreasonable preconditions" such as western demands that Iran must suspend uranium enrichment before coming to the negotiating table were a hindrance to resolving the nuclear dispute.
"This misguided approach will not solve the problem," said Larijani.
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