Russia Opposes Reporting Iran to Security Council

Reuters:

Russia opposes reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear programme, a senior diplomat was quoted as saying on Monday. U.S. and European Union officials have warned they will push for Iran's nuclear case to be sent to the Security Council -- which could impose sanctions -- if Tehran does not halt all nuclear fuel work and resume negotiations with the EU.

"Moscow sees no reason why the question of Iran's nuclear programme should be sent to the U.N. (Security Council)..." Alexander Yakovenko, a deputy foreign minister, told Interfax news agency. READ MORE

Russia has a permanent seat in the Council.

The West fears Iran's nuclear programme, which the oil-rich state insists is aimed only at the peaceful generation of nuclear power, conceals ambitions to develop atomic weapons.

Russia, which has built a nuclear power plant for Iran and sees Tehran as a key ally in the Middle East, has warned before against using force to stop Tehran's nuclear programme.

Iran denies harbouring secret plans to make atomic bombs. It says it has no intention of freezing uranium conversion at its Isfahan plant -- where U.N. seals were broken and work resumed last month.

Iran says it has answered almost all the U.N. nuclear watchdog's outstanding questions about its nuclear programme and that nothing has been uncovered which would justify sending Tehran to the Security Council.