PORTUGAL: Russian President Vladimir Putin objects to fresh sanctions against Iran on an official visit to Portugal

Russian President Vladimir Putin objects to fresh sanctions against Iran on an official visit to Portugal, ahead of EU-Russia Summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin objected on Thursday (October 25) to new sanctions against Iran, saying such action would put Iran in a corner over its nuclear programme. Putin spoke at a news conference with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva: "On Iran, we are against any measure that can violate the international agreements on nuclear weapons proliferation," he said. His remark followed an announcement by the United States that it would slap a new set of unilateral sanctions against Tehran, which it suspects of trying to make a nuclear bomb. Iran denies the charges, saying its nuclear programme is peaceful. Russia, which is helping Iran build a nuclear power station, has backed the United Nations' two sets of mild sanctions, intended to encourage Tehran to cooperate more with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, Russia said it would not back any further sanctions unless the IAEA said Tehran was not cooperating or the U.N. nuclear watchdog finds that Iran's programme had military goals. Russia, a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council, has enough power to block further U.N. sanctions against Iran. Moscow has been increasingly concerned by Washington's efforts to put pressure on Iran with sanctions, bypassing the United Nations and saying such efforts undermine joint efforts to solve Tehran's nuclear issue. Iran is one of the issues which will be discussed during a EU-Russia summit on Friday in Portugal. The disagreements also include the future of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo, and Russian and European energy and investment policies. At the news conference with Silva on Thursday Putin said separatist tendencies were damaging for European countries and Soviet stability, "Wouldn't it be better to have enough patience and try to find a solution within the international law which could satisfy all the parties involved?" he said.

ITN Source | October 26, 2007

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