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Russia to continue nuclear ties with Iran

Vladimir Radyuhin

Moscow helped soften U.N. resolution

MOSCOW: Russia will continue cooperating with Iran in nuclear power generation and defence, a Russian United Nations official said.

"Russia has upheld its economic interests and the execution of signed contracts with Iran, including [the nuclear power station in] Bushehr and arms supplies [the air defence missile systems TOR-M1 and S-300]," the Russian RIA Novosti news agency quoted the official as commenting on the Security Council resolution imposing sanctions against Tehran adopted on Saturday.

Moscow persuaded the other Security Council members to drop from the resolution any reference to Iran's first nuclear power plant being built by Russia and limiting sanctions only to activities related to nuclear weapons, enrichment and heavy water reactors.

"After two months of hard talks, Russian diplomats succeeded in ensuring further free cooperation with Iran in spheres that don't pose a threat from the point of view of proliferation of nuclear weapons," Russia's official Itar-Tass news agency said. "It is also vitally important that the resolution doesn't imply the use of force against Iran. It indicates a peaceful settlement of the nuclear problem via talks as well as the suspension and removal of the sanctions contained in the resolution if Tehran meets the international community's demands."

AP reports:

Iran insists its nuclear programme is intended to produce energy, but the Americans and Europeans suspect its ultimate goal is the production of weapons.

The United States has said it hopes the U.N. resolution will clear the way for tougher measures by individual countries, particularly Russia.

The Bush administration had pushed for tougher penalties. But Russia and China, which both have strong commercial ties to Tehran, and Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, balked.

To get their votes, the resolution dropped a ban on international travel by Iranian officials involved in nuclear and missile development and specified the banned items and technologies.

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