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Posted on 09/14/2003 9:15:15 PM PDT by RussianConservative
Russian officials urged Iran to abide by a UN nuclear agency resolution that set Oct. 31 as a deadline for Iran to prove it is not seeking to develop atomic weapons, saying Saturday that it is in Tehran's interest to show that its nuclear programs are purely peaceful.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak also sought to ease tension between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying the resolution passed by its board of governors Friday "is not an ultimatum. It is a serious and respectful call by the agency for cooperation between Iran and the IAEA," Interfax reported.
Kislyak said the resolution had "the aim of removing all remaining questions the agency has with regard to the peaceful nuclear programs of Iran -- and without putting it off," Interfax reported. He said, "It is in the interest of Iran to remove these questions and thus confirm the peaceful character of its nuclear programs."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko echoed Kislyak in a statement later Saturday, calling the resolution a "clear, direct but respectful signal to Iran about the need to continue and broaden its cooperation with the agency, to provide for the full transparency of its nuclear program."
The diplomats' tone appeared to be aimed at soothing Iran, whose chief delegate Ali Akbar Salehi walked out of Friday's meeting in Vienna and threatened a review of cooperation with the IAEA -- suggesting Tehran might doom inspection attempts by reducing or severing ties. Russia, which plays a large role in building the Bushehr nuclear power plant, is considered to have some sway over Iran's decisions on nuclear policy.
In Iran, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said late Friday that the IAEA resolution was "immature" and "politically motivated," the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Saturday.
Kharrazi repeated the warning that it would affect Iran's relations with the UN nuclear watchdog. "Naturally, we should now decide about our cooperation" with the IAEA, IRNA quoted him as saying.
In comments published online Saturday by Der Spiegel, but appeared to have been before the IAEA resolution, Salehi said it was possible Tehran would "completely end cooperation" with the agency and "maybe pull out of the NonProliferation Treaty."
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