Russia insists on Iran's right to nuclear energy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday repeated the country's support for the nuclear rights of Iran, whose nuclear program has sparked Western concerns of nuclear proliferation and prompted a US-driven push for referral to the UN Security Council for sanctions.

Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy like any other country and Russia would continue nuclear energy cooperation with Iran, Lavrov said in a television interview.

"No one, including the United States, calls into question our right to continue the construction of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr," he said.

Russian support for the Iranian claim to nuclear energy underlined the split it has over Iran with the United States, which accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program.

Iran says its nuclear program is dedicated exclusively to power generation.

Talks between the European Union (EU) and Iran over its controversial nuclear program collapsed after Iran ended a freeze on uranium conversion in August.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Moscow briefly over the weekend to persuade Russia into backing a referral to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions on Iran. The rift between the two sides remained everything but small after Rice headed off to London to continue her European tour.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should continue considering the Iranian nuclear program. Iran has agreed to cooperate with the IAEA, and it is important that the agency is ready to carry on the work," Lavrov said.

"This is the best way to clear all questions and suspicions. It is necessary to agree on transparent development of the Iranian nuclear energy industry in line with international law and in a manner that will not arouse international suspicions," he said.

Source: Xinhua