Home

WMD Programs

Iran's Suspect Entities

Iran's Suppliers

Our Publications

Iran Watch Library

International Organization Documents

Government Documents

Private Viewpoints

Reactions to Iran's WMD Efforts

Useful Links

Search

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov says further sanctions against Iran counterproductive in interview with Belgian magazine, Knack

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

December 26, 2007

Excerpts

 

. . .

Question: What position does Russia hold in the conflict of the international community with Iran? Does Russia support the policy of sanctions being pursued by the US?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia stands exclusively for a peaceful resolution of the situation surrounding the nuclear program of Iran. We proceed from the need to ensure that Teheran fully complies with its nonproliferation obligations, and that all the questions that arose in the world community about the nuclear activities of Iran are cleared up. Of course, no one questions the lawful right of Iran to peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

We are convinced that it is not on the sanctions track that a comprehensive settlement of this problem will be achieved. The importance of a consistent, ongoing development of a frank dialogue, which would be conducive to finding a mutually acceptable solution, based on the decisions which were adopted by the IAEA and in the UN Security Council, is obvious to us and we will carry on that dialogue. This is not an easy path, but we see no other possibility. The experience of the resolution of the situation around the Korean Peninsula nuclear problem shows this.

We at the Six pursue a line on launching full-format talks with Iran, during which it would be possible to remove all the uncleared points and distrust that exist in regard to the character of the nuclear program of Iran.

Further, we are committed precisely to collective actions. In this regard, we just cannot support the unilateral actions that are now being undertaken against Iran. This is, of course, an internal matter of the country which goes for this, in the given case – the US. But the extra sanctions going beyond the measures already adopted by the UN Security Council are counterproductive and do not help the continuation of collective efforts. It is inadmissible, though, when internal sanctions legislation is additionally extrapolated to third countries. It is necessary to muster up patience, and within the framework of existing international norms, search for solutions acceptable to all.

Now the IAEA is working in Iran. The last report of the Director General of the Agency, released in the IAEA Board of Governors, attests to progress in the implementation of the previously reached accords between Teheran and the IAEA in respect of the clarification of the remaining questions about the past nuclear activities of Teheran.

In any circumstances it is necessary to ensure further ongoing implementation of Teheran’s agreements with the IAEA and the expansion of the verification activities by the Agency in Iran. As to UN Security Council decisions, we have always presumed that they must be directed towards assisting the work of the IAEA in Iran and buttress the demands formulated by the Agency for the restoration of trust in the nuclear program of Iran.

If all the questions about Iran’s nuclear program are cleared up in cooperation with the IAEA, this will allow Iran to actively develop political, economic and other cooperation with the international community, with the result that it will be able in full measure to realize its right to peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

. . .