Russia refuses to support tougher UN stance on Iran

By Stefan Wagstyl, James Blitz, Najmeh Bozorgmehr
September 13, 2007
Financial Times 
Original Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/31f42a70-6191-11dc-bf25-0000779fd2ac.html
Russia last night gave a clear indication that it will not support any immediate toughening in the United Nations' approach to the Iranian nuclear programme, despite US calls for the big powers to convene for discussions on the issue next week.
As Washington made clear that it was unhappy with the latest attempt by Iran to allay international concerns over its nuclear programme, a senior Kremlin official in Moscow signalled that Russia would not support a new Security Council resolution.
As far as Iran's nuclear programme is concerned, we have passed resolutions in the UN, the official said. So far, it's enough.
Referring to a recent agreement by Iran to tell the International Atomic Energy Agency - the UN nuclear watchdog - about hitherto secret details of its atomic programme, the Russian official continued: There are certain movements on the part of Iran, certainly as regards the [IAEA]. We co-operate with the US on Iran patiently, [although] it may be not as actively as [the US] would like.
Moscow's stance will be a disappointment to Washington, which announced last night that it would convene a meeting of big powers next week to discuss a fresh raft of sanctions against Tehran.
At a tense meeting of the IAEA's governing board in Vienna, the US dismissed a recent accord between the agency and Iran under which Tehran has agreed to provide fresh information on its nuclear activities.
Britain, France and Germany - the EU3 - expressed similar concern about a work plan recently adopted by Iran in agreement with Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA's director.
According to the work plan agreed on August 21, Iran says it will answer a series of questions that the IAEA has been asking for the past five years on Tehran's nuclear programme.
However, both the US and the EU3 complain that the document does not commit Tehran immediately to suspending uranium enrichment, the central demand of the UN resolutions.
We do not only need clarity about Iran's nuclear past, said Klaus Peter Gottwald, Germany's ambassador to the IAEA. We have to have full trust that Iran refrains now and in the future from any military nuclear activities.
IAEA officials suggested Iran must demonstrate clear compliance with the work plan by the time the organisation's board meets on November 22.
The November board will be crucial, said one IAEA official. That does not mean Iran will have to resolve everything by then, but we will know whether Iran is on track.
In Tehran, Ali Larijani, the top security official, said Iran was fully prepared to co-operate with the IAEA to address its questions. We are 100 per cent ready for co-operation in all issues and do not need to buy time, Mr Larijani said.