PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon, dear colleagues.

The Security Council has adopted a resolution on Iranian nuclear program. Could you please comment on it?

FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV: The Security Council worked on the resolution for several months. This is not a simple issue. We were convinced of the need to find a proper balance between the three following goals - first, to prevent the violation of nuclear weapons non-proliferation regime; second, to ensure continuing talks with Iran on its nuclear program; and third, not to jeopardize legitimate contacts with Iran in other spheres.

The resolution is a compromise, but all the three goals have been achieved. The resolution shuts down the channels feeding those aspects of the Iranian nuclear program which are a source of the IAEA's concern (we have always relied on this professional agency). The resolution contains at the same time a strong appeal to Iran to suspend its program until the IAEA's concerns are removed. In this case, the measures which will shut down the afore-mentioned channels will be suspended as well, and talks can begin. Iran is open for full-scale cooperation in legitimate spheres outside the ban - trade and economy, for example. Thus, the resolution fully takes into account economic interests of Russia and other partners of Iran.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: What about the contracts, which were signed before the resolution was adopted?

SERGEI LAVROV: The resolution states clearly that all contracts concluded by the time of its adoption remain valid and can be implemented.

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