Putin says to meet Ahmadinejad as Iran sanctions loom
After Iranian president warns Russia against siding with Iran's foes, Russian prime minister says resolution, likely to be voted on Wednesday, 'should not be excessive'
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he will meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Istanbul on Tuesday ahead of a UN Security Council vote to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Tehran.
"The president of Iran is here and I think we will see each other within the framework of the conference," Putin said at a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
"We will have an opportunity to discuss these problems if my Iranian colleague will have such a need," he said, adding that the Security Council resolution has been "practically agreed".
Russia is expected to support the sanctions.
Attending a regional summit in the Turkish city, Putin told a news conference that the sanctions should not be "excessive" and should not create barriers for the development of Iran's nuclear energy sector.
Putin (L) with Turkish PM in Istanbul (Photo: Reuters)
"I hold the opinion that this resolution should not be excessive, should not put Iran's leadership or the Iranian people in a tricky situation that creates barriers in the way of developing Iran's peaceful nuclear energy," he said.
He also said the long-delayed Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran should come on line in August regardless of the sanctions.
His comments came after Ahmadinejad warned Russia against siding with Iran's foes.
"There is no big problem, but they must be careful not to be beside the enemies of the Iranian people," Ahmadinejad said.
The Iranian president also said the nuclear fuel swap deal with Turkey and Brazil was an opportunity that would not be repeated.
"We hope and still hope they will be able to use this opportunity, but we say this opportunity will not be repeated," he told a news conference in Istanbul.
Turkey and Brazil last month resurrected parts of a UN-backed offer for Tehran to part with 1,200 kg of low enriched uranium - which is potential nuclear weapons material - in return for special fuel rods for a medical research reactor.
The United States and other powers have regarded the deal as too little, too late, and they submitted extended sanctions to the Security Council last month for approval.
