Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Ahmadinejad urges Russia to rethink its support for UN sanctions

RIA Novosti

14:2126/05/2010 MOSCOW, May 26 (RIA Novosti) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Russia on Wednesday to reconsider its support for UN sanctions against Tehran, saying it is unacceptable, the Ynetnews service said.

"We shouldn't see, at sensitive times, our neighbor (Russia) supporting those who have been against us, have shown animosity to us for 30 years. This is not acceptable for the Iranian nation. I hope they will pay attention and take corrective action," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech.

"If I was in the place of Russian officials, I would adopt a more careful stance," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying.

Ahmadinejad also urged the United States and Russia to back Tehran over its nuclear swap deal, saying the deal was "the best opportunity" and that "there are no excuses left."

Iran, which has been under international pressure over its nuclear program since it announced uranium enrichment plans in early February, agreed last week to swap in Turkey most of its 3.5%-enriched uranium for 20%-enriched fuel for use in its Tehran scientific research reactor.

However, the so-called Iran Six comprising the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, discussed last week a draft Security Council resolution expanding sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

The West has raised concerns about Russia's role in helping Iran to build its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which is due to go into operation by late summer.