In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed deep disappointment on Tehrans decision to resume uranium enrichment research.
Iran agreed to suspend uranium enrichment activities to avoid United Nations Security Council referral in 2003 after it emerged that it had concealed critical parts of its advanced nuclear program from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The mammoth project came to light in August 2002, when the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran exposed the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz and a heavy water reactor site in Arak, both in central Iran.
The Russian statement called on Iran to promptly return to the moratorium regime and to full-scale cooperation with the IAEA in implementation of the resolutions of the Agency’s Board of Governors on the nuclear program of that country.
Moscows position was seen as significant by political analysts, who said the Iranian leaders were counting on Russian support to avoid Security Council referral and eventual sanctions.
The radical Islamists led by the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei”> have attached a lot of importance to Tehrans warm ties with Moscow in the current standoff with the West, Ali Barati, an Iranian financial analyst based in Paris, said. If Russia starts to show signs of impatience, it must have an impact.
The IAEA has called on Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment activities for fears that Tehran may ultimately be pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
