Sergei Lavrov criticized Iran's refusal to address international concerns over its nuclear ambitions, reflecting a twist in Russian policy toward the country.
"We want all 'blank spots' the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] has uncovered in Iran's program to be cleared up," Sergei Lavrov said. "The questions Iran has to answer are well known. Unfortunately, Iran has delayed its answers."
Lavrov said Moscow is worried by Tehran's refusal to accept incentives proposed by the six international mediators in the long-running nuclear dispute and to resume talks, and that it condemns the attempts of any country to convert a civilian nuclear program into a military one.
Russia's line has consistently been that the Islamic Republic has the right to develop nuclear power under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under the supervision of the IAEA.
"We are taking this into account. But our Iranian colleagues have ignored their obligation to cooperate with the IAEA, as the treaty and agreements with the IAEA include both rights and obligations," the minister said.
Iran, which has refused to halt uranium enrichment, saying it needs nuclear fuel for electricity generation but not weapons production, has restricted UN inspections, in protest against the IAEA's referral of its "nuclear file" to the UN Security Council, and has also rejected incentives from world powers, which include technological aid and guaranteed enriched uranium supplies for its nuclear power plants.
Tehran is facing sanctions proposed in a draft Security Council resolution by Britain, Germany and France. The draft proposes banning the sale of missile and nuclear technologies to the country, freezing Tehran's military bank accounts, and imposing visa restrictions on officials linked to the nuclear industry.
Russia, which is building a $1 billion nuclear power plant in southern Iran, has demanded that the sanctions be softened. But Lavrov said that given the lack of progress in talks with Iran, Russia will "fulfill its obligations in the Security Council."
The minister said, however, that the Security Council should not take on the IAEA's responsibilities, but back the nuclear watchdog in its dealings with the Islamic Republic.
