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Russia rules out new Iran sanctions over nuclear report | Russia rules out new Iran sanctions over nuclear report |
(40 minutes later) | |
Russia has ruled out supporting fresh sanctions against Iran, despite a UN report that says Tehran may be trying to develop nuclear weapons. | Russia has ruled out supporting fresh sanctions against Iran, despite a UN report that says Tehran may be trying to develop nuclear weapons. |
Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Interfax news agency that extra sanctions could be interpreted as a means of regime change in Iran. | Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Interfax news agency that extra sanctions could be interpreted as a means of regime change in Iran. |
Earlier, France and the US both said they would pursue new sanctions against Iran in the wake of the IAEA report. | Earlier, France and the US both said they would pursue new sanctions against Iran in the wake of the IAEA report. |
Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful means. | Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful means. |
However, the US and its allies have long suspected that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, which it is feared could threaten Israel. | However, the US and its allies have long suspected that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, which it is feared could threaten Israel. |
"Any additional sanctions against Iran will be seen in the international community as an instrument for regime change in Iran," Mr Gatilov said. | "Any additional sanctions against Iran will be seen in the international community as an instrument for regime change in Iran," Mr Gatilov said. |
"That approach is unacceptable to us, and the Russian side does not intend to consider such proposals." | "That approach is unacceptable to us, and the Russian side does not intend to consider such proposals." |
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had information indicating Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device". | The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had information indicating Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device". |
The IAEA report - href="http://isis-online.org/uploads/isis-reports/documents/IAEA_Iran_8Nov2011.pdf" >published on the Institute for Science and International Security website - says the research includes computer models that could only be used to develop a nuclear bomb trigger. | |
It documents alleged Iranian work on the kind of implosion device that would be needed to detonate a nuclear weapon. | |
On Wednesday, a defiant Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country will not budge "one iota" from its nuclear programme. | |
He said the IAEA report was based on "empty claims" provided by the US. | |
"Why do you damage the [UN] agency's dignity because of America's invalid claims?" he said in a televised speech. | |
Addressing the US he added: "We will not build two bombs in the face of your 20,000. We will develop something that you cannot respond to, which is ethics, humanity, solidarity and justice. | |
"You should know that no enemy of the Iranian people has ever tasted victory." | |
'Additional pressure' | |
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the seriousness of the report warranted a meeting of the UN Security Council. | |
"If Iran refuses to conform to the demands of the international community and refuses any serious co-operation, we stand ready to adopt, with other willing countries, sanctions on an unprecedented scale," he told French radio. | |
Mr Juppe said tough sanctions were needed to "prevent Iran from continuing to obtain resources that allow it to pursue its activities in violation of all international rules". | |
A senior US official said Washington would consult with partners on "additional" pressure and sanctions on Tehran. | |
"We don't take anything off the table when we look at sanctions. We believe there is a broad spectrum of action we could take," the official said, quoted by AFP news agency. | |
The EU said the report "seriously aggravates" existing concerns. | |
"Overall these findings strongly indicate the existence of a fully-fledged nuclear weapons development programme in Iran," said a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. | |
Baroness Ashton represents six world powers - the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US - in stalled negotiations with Iran over its uranium enrichment programme. | |
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says China is also unlikely to support further sanctions against Iran. | |
Last Sunday Israeli President Shimon Peres said a military strike on Iran was becoming more likely. | |
"There is an impression that Iran is getting closer to nuclear weapons," he told the Israel Hayom daily. | |
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