Russia urges further cooperation between Iran, IAEA

Russia sees the recent resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran as a signal for further cooperation between the two sides in resolving the nuclear issues, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday.

Late last month, the IAEA passed a resolution warning of referring Iran to the UN Security Council unless it allays fears about its nuclear programs. Russia, which opposed such a move, abstained from voting.

"The IAEA has sufficient potential for settling the Iranian problem within its framework," Anatoly Antonov, director of the security and disarmament department of the Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as telling the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. "We want to intensify dialog between all the interested parties and make decisions that would disperse any doubts about the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear activities and meet the lawful energy needs of Iran," Antonov said.

Challenges to nuclear non-proliferation can and should be dealt with in accordance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, he said.

Source: Xinhua