MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti) - Any military operation in Iran could exacerbate problems in the Mideast region, the secretary of Russia's Security Council said Thursday.
"We believe that any military operation in Iran could lead to consequences that could seriously aggravate the situation in the region and beyond," Igor Ivanov said.
The U.S., France and Britain are pressing for a new militarily enforceable UN Security Council resolution to get Iran to abandon its controversial nuclear program. Russia and China say the issue should be resolved through diplomacy.
"Russia has always supported political and diplomatic means of resolving this problem," said Ivanov, a former foreign minister.
Iran stands accused of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program, a charge it denies. The Islamic Republic says it is enriching uranium for use in nuclear power plants to generate electricity, and that it has the right to do so under international treaties.
"The most effective solution is based on consensus at the UN Security Council," Ivanov said. "We are currently holding rather complicated talks to reach a mutual understanding at the UN Security Council."
Ivanov said there were no major differences between Security Council members and that they all supported consolidation of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and prevention of the formation of new nuclear powers.
"We may face tactical differences regarding how we should act," Ivanov said.
