JERUSALEM, November 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will continue consultations with Iran on nuclear issues, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov said Wednesday.
"Russia is proceeding from the assumption that Iran, like other parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), has the right to develop its own peaceful nuclear programs," the Security Council secretary told Russian TV and news agencies.
However, he stressed, Russia is against the emergence of states possessing nuclear weapons. He said he hoped consultations would be continued.
Ivanov said Russia was interested in developing good, stable relations with Iran.
"It is our neighbor, our old partner and we have many fields where we can effectively cooperate to our mutual benefit," he said.
On Russian President Vladimir Putin's instruction, Ivanov visited Iran, Iraq and Israel. In Tehran, he also discussed regional problems and other issues on the agenda.
