Russian officials declined to comment Monday on reports that Iran has signed an agreement to swap its uranium in Turkey for enrichment, saying they are waiting for confirmation of the deal, the Interfax news agency reported.
"We don't have any official information on hand yet, so we are holding off on our reactions," an unidentified staffer of the Russian foreign ministry was quoted as saying, DPA reported.
Russia, which has veto power in the United Nations Security Council, had recently joined other countries in threatening Iran with new sanctions over its nuclear enrichment programme.
Although the uranium exchange deal would not settle more than seven years of dispute over the programme, it is considered by observers to be a first step.