Russia “regrets” Iran’s nuclear non-compliance

Iran Focus: London, Sep. 01 – Russia said on Friday that it regretted Iran’s refusal to comply with a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that it suspend uranium enrichment. Iran Focus

London, Sep. 01 – Russia said on Friday that it regretted Iran’s refusal to comply with a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that it suspend uranium enrichment.

“Mohammed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, presented his report. We share his position and express regret that Iran did not comply with UN Resolution 1696 and did not abandon its uranium enrichment program by the deadline”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

The Security Council adopted Resolution 1696 on July 31 demanding that Tehran suspend all its uranium enrichment activities by August 31 or face the threat of sanctions.

Tehran missed the deadline and has consistently vowed never to abandon uranium enrichment.

ElBaradei reported on Thursday that Tehran had not suspended its uranium enrichment activities and had blocked IAEA inspectors from inspecting its nuclear facilities.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow could agree on a variety of ways to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, but only if they did not hinder the ultimate settlement.

“Russia may consider a variety of ways to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, but only those that would move us closer to the goal [the settlement”>, rather than put obstacles on the road toward it”, Lavrov told a news conference.