Russia welcomes UN revised sanctions on Iran nuclear program

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-12-2006 08:39

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised revisions to a draft UN Security Council resolution on Iran, which Britain and France plan to introduce on Monday. The revised draft was circulated to the 15 members of the UN Security Council last week.

Russia had opposed an earlier version of the draft, saying strong sanctions against Iran were too harsh and could make Tehran even more defiant.

The new version narrowed bans to the most dangerous bomb-building materials and technology.

Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, said, "The (revised) draft (of the Iran resolution) is different from the initial variant and contains changes based on the Russian proposals which aim at encouraging Iran to sit down at the negotiating table, and encourage it to avoid steps which cause the IAEA concerns."

The Russian foreign minister said the revised draft will not impose any restrictions on Russian cooperation with Iran in completing Iran's nuclear power station project at Bushehr, in southern Iran.

"The draft (resolution) will have no relation to Bushehr. The project for the Bushehr nuclear power station is carried in full compliance with IAEA regulations and norms, so the draft cannot impose any limits on this project." said Sergei Lavrov.

But Lavrov stopped short of saying whether Russia would back the revised version.

The draft keeps a travel ban and asset freeze on individuals, groups and businesses involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which Russia opposes.

Editor:Du Xiaodan