This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8307208.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Clinton: Russia sees Iran threat | Clinton: Russia sees Iran threat |
(30 minutes later) | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told the BBC that Russia now recognises the threat posed by Iran. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told the BBC that Russia now recognises the threat posed by Iran. |
Wrapping up a European tour in Moscow, Mrs Clinton said Russian leaders had in private said they were ready to act if Tehran did not meet its obligations. | Wrapping up a European tour in Moscow, Mrs Clinton said Russian leaders had in private said they were ready to act if Tehran did not meet its obligations. |
But Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, on a visit to China, said it was too early to talk about sanctions on Iran. | |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that threats of sanctions were counter-productive. | |
Iran denies allegations by the US, EU and Israel that it is trying to build the bomb under cover of a civilian nuclear energy programme. | |
Mrs Clinton told the BBC on Wednesday that Russia in the past six months had "moved tremendously" to acknowledge the threat of Iran's programme. | Mrs Clinton told the BBC on Wednesday that Russia in the past six months had "moved tremendously" to acknowledge the threat of Iran's programme. |
There is no need to scare the Iranians - there is a need to reach agreements Vladimir PutinRussian prime minister A Russian policy shift on Iran? Iran on defensive over secret site | |
She said Russian officials, in private talks, had recognised the need to act if diplomacy failed. | She said Russian officials, in private talks, had recognised the need to act if diplomacy failed. |
"We are in total agreement on all of that," Mrs Clinton told the BBC. | "We are in total agreement on all of that," Mrs Clinton told the BBC. |
"And we are also in agreement that if our diplomatic engagement is not successful then we have to look at other measures to take, including sanctions to try to pressure the Iranians." | "And we are also in agreement that if our diplomatic engagement is not successful then we have to look at other measures to take, including sanctions to try to pressure the Iranians." |
As a permanent UN Security Council member, Russia would need to back any fresh sanctions against Iran. | As a permanent UN Security Council member, Russia would need to back any fresh sanctions against Iran. |
At the start of this month, Iran agreed at a meeting in Geneva to allow UN inspectors into a previously undisclosed nuclear site near its holy city of Qom, and to send low-enriched uranium abroad for enrichment to a higher level. | |
'Buying time' | |
Mrs Clinton acknowledged to the BBC that Tehran had bought itself more time with this move. | Mrs Clinton acknowledged to the BBC that Tehran had bought itself more time with this move. |
But she said Iran had also made commitments which the Russians and the Chinese now expected them to fulfil. | |
However, wrapping up a visit to Beijing, Vladimir Putin said talk of sanctions was premature. | |
"I believe it's too early to speak of them," Russia's prime minister told media, reports AFP news agency. | |
"There is no need to scare the Iranians. There is a need to reach agreements." | |
After Moscow, Mrs Clinton headed for Kazan, capital of the religiously and ethnically diverse region of Tatarstan, east of Moscow. | |
The US has been trying to "reset" relations with Russia | The US has been trying to "reset" relations with Russia |
Her five-day European trip included stops in Zurich, London and Belfast. | |
US President Barack Obama, who met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in July, has pledged to reset relations with Moscow. | |
Mr Obama, for his part, has met a key Russian demand to scrap plans to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a US missile defence system in Europe. | Mr Obama, for his part, has met a key Russian demand to scrap plans to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a US missile defence system in Europe. |
The US administration insisted it did not expect concessions in return. | The US administration insisted it did not expect concessions in return. |
But Washington has called on Moscow to support, or at least not oppose, the idea of tougher sanctions on Iran if it fails to live up to its international obligations. | |
The council wants Iran to end uranium enrichment and has approved three rounds of sanctions - including bans on Iran's arms exports and all trade in nuclear material. | The council wants Iran to end uranium enrichment and has approved three rounds of sanctions - including bans on Iran's arms exports and all trade in nuclear material. |