Russia: Iran Prepared to Talk about its Nuclear Plans

[Chris]

Russia: Iran Prepared to Talk about its Nuclear Plans
Reported: 06:36 AM - Sep/16/09

(IsraelNN.com) Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that Iran is prepared for significant and comprehensive discussions regarding its nuclear plans. “A package of Iranian proposals shows its true intentions to deliberate on the nuclear issue,” a spokesman from Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

The topic of Iran’s nuclear ambitions isn’t part of its proposals to the west, according to reports. Nevertheless, Iran’s nuclear program is one of the topics that are expected to be raised at a forum on nuclear weaponry on October 1. Teheran already clarified that it won’t focus on its uranium enrichment plans in its talks with the west. However, the United States has demanded that this topic be discussed, as well.

[Chris]

Iran Focus

Sanctions 'sometimes necessary', Medvedev on Iran
Tuesday, 15 September 2009

MOSCOW (AFP) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that sanctions might be needed to keep Iran's nuclear programme in check but described this as "not very effective" and urged continued negotiation instead. "Sanctions are something not very effective," Medvedev said in a meeting with foreign experts on Russia, commenting on moves backed by some Western powers to impose further sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme.

"But sometimes it is necessary to use them," the Russian president stated. Russia, which is helping the Islamic Republic construct its first nuclear plant in the southern city of Bushehr, has long resisted US-led moves to tighten the screws on Tehran through international sanctions.

The United States, the European Union and Israel fear that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear power programme, but Tehran denies the charges and says the programme is peaceful. Medvedev urged caution in moving towards further sanctions, saying this was not necessarily the best tool and arguing that further diplomatic engagement with Tehran was the best option at present. "We should be responsible and continue discussions," he said.