Russia opposes using UNSC to punish Iran: FM

Russia will oppose any attempts to use the UN Security Council to punish Iran for its disputed nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We will oppose any attempts to use the Security Council to punish Iran or use Iran's nuclear program to promote the idea of ousting the regime there," Lavrov said in an interview with the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA, the transcript of which was posted on the ministry's website on Saturday.

Lavrov was aware of the serious threat to the world's nuclear non-proliferation regime and urged Tehran to "respond to the constructive proposals that were made to it and fully cooperate with the IAEA to settle all remaining issues."

Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States in June offered a package of incentives and multilateral talks to Iran in exchange for a freeze on its uranium enrichment work. But Iranian leaders have said Tehran would not stop enriching uranium.

The United States accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under a civilian front, but Iran insists its nuclear program is only aimed at generating power to meet surging domestic demand.

"There is no evidence indicating that Iran is developing a military nuclear program, but there are suspicions and questions that have not yet been answered," Lavrov said. He urged Iran to "provide such answers."

Source: Xinhua