Russia: Iran sanctions unlikely
Sanctions 'highly unlikely' Russian official says; Livni tells Lavrov Tehran dishonest
The Kremlin's top foreign policy aide said on Wednesday that sanctions against Iran are highly unlikely in the near future, Interfax news agency reported.
"Sanctions in relation to Iran are hardly possible in the near future," Kremlin foreign policy aide Sergei Prikhodko was quoted as saying.
When asked whether Russia would support further sanctions against Iran, Prikhodko quoted an answer given by Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev last month after talks with US President Barack Obama.
"Sanctions seldom lead to the required result but in some cases the use of sanctions is inevitable," Prikhodko said. "This formulation remains in force."
Meanwhile, Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni met in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed the Iranian issue with him.
Livni told Lavrov that Iran was hiding its nuclear efforts and urged tougher international action against Tehran.
The world needs to learn the lesson from Iran's conduct so far and understand that it has not acted with transparency vis-à-vis the International community, Livni said.
