Russia denounces Security Council move on Iran
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-21 14:31

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced as "counter-productive" moves by the United States and the European Union to report Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council, RIA Novosti news agency said, Reuters reported.

The European Union unveiled a resolution on Tuesday calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report the program to the U.N. Security Council, which can impose sanctions against Iran.

"While Iran is cooperating with the IAEA, while it is not enriching uranium and observing a moratorium, while IAEA inspectors are working in the country, it would be counter-productive to report this question to the U.N. Security Council," Lavrov was quoted on Wednesday as saying in a speech in San Francisco.

"It will lead to an unnecessary politicizing of the situation. Iran is not violating its obligations and its actions do not threaten the non-proliferation regime," he said in a speech at Stanford University.

Russia, which has built a $1 billion nuclear reactor for Iran and sees it as a key ally in the Middle East, is a permanent member of the Council and can use its veto to block any move against Iran.

Russia has long warned against using force to stop Tehran's nuclear program and called for diplomatic ways to settle disagreements.

Iran, which denies wanting nuclear weapons as suspected by Washington and the European Union, has angered the EU by resuming uranium processing work at a plant in Isfahan -- a move which led EU officials to threaten the Council referral.

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