Russia: Security Council may discuss Iran
Foreign Minister Lavrov says Iran must give Russia 'constructive response' on nuclear program
At a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in the German capital, Lavrov signaled Moscow may be ready to take a tougher stance on Iran.
"In certain situations, if we do not see a constructive response on the part of Iran, we will probably have to discuss this issue within the UN Security Council," Lavrov told reporters, adding he still hoped to find a diplomatic solution.
Meanwhile China called for patience and diplomatic efforts with Iran. Foreign Minister Yang Jieche told defense officials in Munich that negotiations with Iran have "entered a crucial stage."
He said that "the parties concerned should, with the overall and long-term interests in mind, step up diplomatic efforts, stay patient and adopt a more flexible, pragmatic and proactive policy."
"The purpose is to seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution through dialogue and negotiations," Jieche added.
Iran faces a possible fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions over its uranium enrichment work which Western nations believe is designed to develop a nuclear bomb.
Tehran denies this and says its atomic program is only for civilian purposes. Earlier, Westerwelle said Iran had been using delaying tactics instead of taking action to resolve the dispute.
"For the past two years Iran has repeatedly bluffed and played tricks," Westerwelle told Deutschlandfunk radio.
"It has played for time and of course we in the international community cannot accept a nuclear-armed Iran."
Traditionally, China and Russia have been more reluctant than other UN Security Council permanent members to further penalize Iran. But recent comments, including Lavrov's latest, indicate Moscow may be increasingly ready to agree to sanctions.
Lavrov said he planned to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference which starts later on Friday and he saw a chance to narrow differences with Iran in talks.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday his country was ready to send low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad to be converted into fuel for a Tehran nuclear medicine reactor to show its nuclear aims were purely peaceful.
But diplomats said Iran had not conveyed any change in its stance to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Lavrov also said Moscow was waiting for more information from Washington on US plans to deploy interceptor missiles in Romania. Romania's top defense body has approved the plan.
