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Question: The West suspects Russia of covering up the plans of Iran concerning its defense capability. But Russia did vote for the adoption of the new UN Security Council resolution somewhat toughening up the sanctions against Teheran. How justified are the questions of the IAEA with regard to the Iranian nuclear program?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: In our relations with either Iran or any other country we are not covering up for and are not shielding anybody. In our foreign policy, including the policy towards Iran, we are guided solely by Russia's national interests and by international law. International law alone can serve as a firm basis for any efforts in resolving all problems, including those that have appeared between Iran and the IAEA.

The world community quite justifiably had questions after Iran had been pursuing its nuclear program for many years without properly informing the IAEA; although Teheran was duty bound to do that in accordance with the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Those questions needed to be answered. And I am pleased to say the latest IAEA report indicates that Iran, even if probably belatedly, has begun to quite actively cooperate with the international experts for the purpose of eliminating blank spots in its nuclear program.

And yet not all of the IAEA requests have been met so far. I mean first of all the necessity to freeze uranium enrichment. Not as an end in itself, but as a tool for the strengthening of trust.

That's why the UN Security Council adopted the new resolution. The text of this document was being prepared for a long time. As a result the resolution contains no excessive measures of economic or political pressure on Iran. It is dedicated to the imposition of only the measures which concern activities relating to the nuclear program. That is, activities which the IAEA considers it necessary at this stage to freeze, until confidence in the nuclear program of Iran is fully restored.

Also recall that this resolution was not adopted in isolation, but in a package with the statement of the ministers of the six foreign states which reaffirms that the principal and sole path of resolving the Iranian problem is talks, the political path. Any other steps in the form of use of force are completely ruled out. The statement adopted by the six ministers especially stresses that as soon as Iran closes with the IAEA all the questions Teheran will enjoy all the same rights without exception as does any other non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The Six also recalled its proposals that had been made to Iran a year and a half ago. They concerned the development of economic cooperation and the development of cooperation in the field of high technologies, including peaceful nuclear energy, and the development of security cooperation. Bearing in mind regional security, the Six notified Iran that it would be ready to concretize and develop these proposals.

This is an absolutely balanced approach, it seems to me. I am certain that the Six should consistently be implementing the assurances that are contained in this statement. At issue is also the necessity to search for innovative approaches towards resuming the talks.

Question: And yet western politicians continue to reproach Russia for applying double standards: on the one hand, Russia is implementing its commitments regarding the construction of Nuclear Power Plant at Bushehr and on the other it is voting in the Security Council for new sanctions against Teheran.

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Not a single one of the UN Security Council resolutions contains any restrictions on either the establishment of Nuclear Power Plant at Bushehr or on the construction of other nuclear power plants that will operate in Iran using similar reactors to those that Russia is completing at Bushehr.

I am convinced that the erection of this nuclear power plant is the weightiest contribution to ensuring the fulfillment by Iran of its obligations under the NPT Treaty. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, if you will, is the anchor which very firmly keeps Iran within the NPT Treaty.