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Russia opposes deadline for Iran's nuclear compliance

Other News Materials 24 July 2008 17:37 (UTC +04:00)

Russia said Thursday it opposes imposing deadlines on Tehran to force compliance with international efforts to halt its nuclear programme, reported dpa.

"We are of the view that there should be no artificial timeline, such as extreme deadlines of 'tomorrow or never,' just as there should be no endless dragging out of the process," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying on the sidelines of regional forum in Singapore.

The six UN veto powers and Germany are offering Iran incentives, including withholding from further economic sanctions, if Iran consents not to expand its uranium enrichment programme.

The United States and other Western powers believe Iran's civilian nuclear programme is a cover for ambitions to build atomic weapons.

Russia, which helped build Iran's first nuclear plant at Bushehr and supplies it with uranium shipments, is equally wary of Iran's nuclear intentions, but it has been more reticent to resort to sanctions against the Islamic state.

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