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Question: What is the position of Moscow on the nuclear problem of Iran, in particular, after the recent military training exercises in Iran? And what do you think is necessary for solving this matter?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: The situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program remains complicated. Despite progress achieved over the past year in cooperation by Iran with the IAEA in closing the questions about previous Iranian nuclear activities, Teheran does not comply with the demands of the United Nations Security Council: it has not suspended uranium enrichment, continues construction of a heavy water reactor, refrains from applying the Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA, etc. All of these demands were formulated in support of the repeated appeals of the IAEA Governing Board in respect of the steps which Teheran must undertake in order to restore trust in its nuclear program.

Yet thanks largely to our efforts, the Six (Russia, Britain, China, the US, France and the FRG) have succeeded in creating some definite possibilities for the start of negotiations on the basis of the proposals of the sides in order to solve the entire set of issues. We now accentuate and focus attention upon how to realize these possibilities, considering all action options under the agreed strategy of the Six, based on a twin-track approach. We count on reciprocal constructive steps of the Iranian side.

It is worth noting also that no one calls into question Iran's lawful right to peaceful uses of nuclear power in accordance with the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). If and when trust in the peaceful character of the Iranian nuclear program is restored, attitude towards it will be the same as to similar programs of any other non-nuclear weapon state party to the NPT. This broadens opportunities for Iran to actively develop political, economic and other cooperation with the international community, particularly in the area of peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

By and large Russia stands for resolving the situation surrounding the nuclear program of Iran solely by politico-diplomatic methods. All the issues have to be tackled at the negotiating table. We see no alternative to this.

In our bilateral contacts we urge the Iranian side to avail itself of the proposals made by the Six in Geneva in July for launching the negotiation process.

As to the military training exercises you mentioned, we do not see what bearing this has on the essence of the problem connected with the Iranian nuclear program.