Russia urges Iran to adhere to Geneva deal

Reuters: Russia's Foreign Ministry urged Iran on Thursday to adhere to a deal aimed at easing international concerns that Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons. MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia's Foreign Ministry urged Iran on Thursday to adhere to a deal aimed at easing international concerns that Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, says Iran is blocking the deal under which Tehran would send 75 percent of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia and France.

"The Russia side especially underlined the necessity of observing the principles of the agreement, reached in negotiations on this theme in Geneva on October 1 between representatives of Iran and the six countries," a statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry website www.mid.ru said.

The statement was released after Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met Iran's ambassador to Moscow.

The statement said both sides exchanged views about Iran's nuclear program following the November 20 meeting in Brussels by political directors of Russia and the other five countries involved in the talks with Tehran.

(Reporting by Conor Sweeney; Editing by Alison Williams)