Russia considers inadmissible any military strike on Iran, thinking that this is only aggravate the situation, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Gennady Gatilov said today at a press conference in Moscow, Ria Novosti reported.
"Any military strike on Iran is unacceptable, they will help to ensure that the situation will become even more critical," Gatilov said.
Speaking about the negotiations between Iran and the six states (United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, coordinated by the European Union), Gatilov said Russia supports Iran's readiness for negotiations.
"We have always advocated the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the six powers," Gatilov noted. "It was our initiative, and we've always called for it."
Speaking about the sanctions on Iran, Gatilov underscored that "sanctions have long exhausted themselves and no longer add anything positive to the main objective - negotiatiating process".
"Russia opposes the adoption of new sanctions against Iran," Gatilov said. "In this case, Russia, for its part, rejects such initiatives."
Threat to impose additional sanctions against Tehran began to appear after a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's nuclear program, which stated that Iran has worked over developing nuclear weapons, and such activities may still continue.
The United States and several Western countries suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the coverage of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is aimed at meeting the country's electricity needs.
Edited by: S. Isayev
...