Moscow inches toward Iran sanctions

UPI: Russia will consider economic sanctions against Iran if Iran continues to rebuff U.N. agency requests on its nuclear program, Russia’s foreign minister says. United Press International

Russia will consider economic sanctions against Iran if Iran continues to rebuff U.N. agency requests on its nuclear program, Russia’s foreign minister says.

Sergei Lavrov told a Moscow radio station that Moscow — whose cooperation with Iran has rankled Washington — might end its opposition to sanctions if Iran refuses to cooperate with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Russian Information Agency Novosti reports.

Western diplomats said last week that Iran had barred Chris Charlier, the U.N. agency’s section chief for Iran, from going there for several months.

Tehran contends its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The United States and Europe say Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran has also refused to respond to an offer of economic and energy incentives if it suspends its uranium enrichment.
If Tehran does not respond in an agreeable way to the U.N. atomic energy agency, “we have agreed that additional measures, including economic sanctions, will eventually be discussed,” Lavrov said.